Borough residents binge drink more than the rest of London a new survey says.

According to a joint survey by the NHS and the borough council, over 3,700 people, which is 24 per cent of the borough's adult population, drink hazardously with 18.4 per cent of adults binge drinking' by downing twice the sensible daily level. This is three per cent higher than in the rest of London.

Borough police commander, Det Chief Supt Rick Turner, attributes these figures to the relative affluence in the borough and the attractiveness of the area which makes it a choice for revellers.

He said: "We are doing a lot to fight binge and under age drinking and will be coming down even harder on offenders this year."

Alcohol related admissions to Kingston Hospital have risen since the 24-hour drinking laws came in November 2005, from 703 between October 2004 and November 2005 to 1,092 between November 2006 and November 2007. West Middlesex Hospital was unable to provide this paper with figures.

Chair of the borough's alcohol task group Councillor Liz Jaeger said: "We have already introduced controlled drinking zones and crackdowns on shopkeepers selling alcohol to underage children."