1:15pm Thursday 27th December 2007
By Josephine Woode
Shocking statistics have revealed a 22 per cent increase of alcohol-related incidents in Hounslow following the change in the licensing laws two years ago.
New figures from the London Ambulance Service show that between November 2006 and September 30, 2007, there were 1,143 incidents in the borough recorded as being alcohol-related compared with 937 two years ago.
Zul Mirza, accident and emergency consultant at West Middlesex Hospital said: "There is no doubt that alcohol related illness and injuries have made a significant impact on both the number of cases presented to accident and emergency at the West Middlesex Hospital and the number of hospital admissions.
"We see an eclectic mix of presentations from fractures and joint dislocations, head injuries and fitting, road traffic accidents caused by drink driving, catastrophic bleeding and vomiting and patients dying due to alcohol related conditions.
"Binge drinking is especially prevalent in the younger population, especially over weekends, which now seem to start on a Thursday.
"Alcohol is also readily available and cheap, and some people are tempted to start drinking at home before going out.
"We want people to have a good time, but our advice is to be sensible about what you are drinking.
"Never drink and drive, stick to the national guidelines for alcohol consumption per week (21 units for men, 14 for women), always drink with a meal, and keep an eye on what you're drinking, particularly the alcoholic content, and space it out over the evening, interspersed with water."
Almost every London borough has seen increases in alcohol-related calls in the last couple of years.
The biggest increase occurred in Kingston where incidents increased by 35 per cent- from 606 to 821.
Alcohol-related admissions in London have soared from 14,810 to 23,170 which represents a dramatic rise of 56.6 per cent from 2002 to 2006.
Other figures show that 13 per cent of men and 5 per cent of women in the capital now consume levels of alcohol considered seriously dangerous.
In 2006 and 2007, 6,910 Londoners claimed incapacity benefits because of alcohol-related illnesses.
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