Counting the cost of booze

By Steph Johnson

Last updated 05:40, Friday, 01 August 2008

CUMBRIAN boozers are tying up NHS and police resources with their illnesses and drunken antics.

There are 37 Cumbrian hospital beds permanently taken up by drinkers, who stay for an average of eight days.

Over a five-year period there were 6,500 admissions for alcohol-related illnesses.

Carlisle has the highest rate of incapacity benefit claims due to alcoholism, with 90 people signing on because they cannot stop drinking.

All Cumbrian local authorities record a higher estimate of binge drinking than the national average.

Almost one in five Cumbrians have been deemed hazardous drinkers because they go over the daily recommendede limit.

A recent NHS survey of Cumbrian youngsters stated that 18 per cent of primary school children had at least one alcoholic drink the week before they were questioned.

The figure for secondary school pupils was 39 per cent.

North Cumbria associate director of public health Jane Muller told the Carlisle Area Community Liaison forum on Wednesday night that early intervention was vital and a number of preventative projects were already underway.

Carlisle and North Cumbria area commander Chief Supt Andy Davidson added that alcohol was a main cause of crime and anti-social behaviour.

From January to June there were 782 booze related offences in North Cumbria, 352 were assaults.

Reg Watson, chairman Cumbria Police Authority thinks the solution is to tax strong booze and set a national minimum price for the supermarket and off licence sales.