New figures reveal nearly a quarter of Cumbrians are drinking to dangerous levels (From The Westmorland Gazette)

New figures reveal nearly a quarter of Cumbrians are drinking to dangerous levels

8:55am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

ALMOST a quarter of Cumbrian’s are drinking at a level which increases the risk of damaging their health, and a top public health doctor is calling for a minimum price per unit of alcohol to tackle the booze epidemic.

The Alcohol Harm Map produced by Alcohol Concern shows that 23 per cent of Cumbrians are risking their health and costing the NHS in Cumbria an estimated £19.3m per year.

In Cumbria, alcohol misuse is costing the NHS £75 per adult. In 2009, 165 people in Cumbria died from alcohol-related causes - 62 from chronic liver disease.

Professor John Ashton, Cumbria's Director of Public Health says the government's proposal of a minimum price per unit of alcohol in England and Wales is an important step in tackling the county's growing alcohol problems.

Under the proposal, a minimum price would act as a floor and retailers would not be allowed to offer alcohol below that level.

“We know that price has a big impact on people's drinking behavior,” said Prof Ashton. “Introducing a minimum price for alcohol, which I and many other public health experts would like to see set at 50p, is an important step towards tackling our hazardous drinking culture.

"While this step would help to curb some of the cheap supermarket booze we see on offer, it would not affect the vast majority of responsible pubs and drinkers. We owe it to ourselves and our children to take this step.”