Teens among worst drinkers

Staffordshire has one of the biggest problems of teenage binge-drinking in the country, shock figures today reveal.

Data for Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority shows some 68 children aged under 14 were admitted to hospital for conditions caused by alcohol abuse.

That equates to 0.14 per cent of some 47,847 total admissions of youngsters in that age group in the area in 2005/06 - one of the highest proportions requiring treatment for drinking in England. This is second only to Cumbria and Lancashire SHA where 128 drunken teenagers ended up in hospital for alcohol abuse - 0.22 per cent of 57,883 admissions.

The figures were released to MPs by Health Minister Dawn Primaralo following a probe by the Tories.Nationally, some 1,441 under 14-year-olds suffered alcohol specific conditions.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "It is tragic that so many children have been sucked into alcohol abuse at such a young age. This is yet more evidence of the social breakdown that has occurred under this Government.

"The Government needs to create an environment which promotes sensible drinking."

He accused minister of "extraordinary complacency" and "failing to prioritise public health and the toll this is taking on people's lives".

In a joint statement from the Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families, a Government spokeswoman said ministers "remain concerned about young people and alcohol abuse".

She said the cross-Government alcohol strategy Safe, Sensible, Social, highlights these issues and outlines how the Government plans to tackle the problem.

"For the first time, it identifies under-18s as a priority group and the reduction of drinking by young people as a Government objective," she said.

By Sunita Patel