More than 10 million people in England are drinking too much and around one in four adults consume alcohol at “hazardous” levels.
The shock statistics have been blamed on a trend towards stronger drinks and larger glasses in recent years, especially among wine drinkers, according to research by the National Audit Office released yesterday.
Experts warn middle class wine lovers are consuming the most, with some seven million people drinking over the recommended amount.
But three million more are what could be considered problem drinkers, regularly drinking even more than this. Their high intake places them in the “harmful” drinking category, where their habits are affecting their physical and mental health.
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned the NHS is failing to deal with the scale of the problem.
It said that three times as many patients should receive advice from their GP on how to cut down their drinking.
The number of deaths from alcohol-related causes doubled between 1991 and 2006, official figures show, from 4,100 to 8,800. But if all related illnesses, such as cancer, are included, the figure reaches 15,000.
Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, which received the report from the NAO, said that many people did not realise how much they were drinking.
“Even where people know (the official guidelines), it is not easy to translate quantities of drink of varying degrees of strength into 'units of alcohol’.”
He added: “England is suffering an epidemic of drinking. Many drinkers are endangering their health and wellbeing and placing a huge burden on the health service.”
Professor Ian Gilmore, from the Royal College of Physicians, said the report made “sobering” reading.
He added: “It is clear that the NHS needs to urgently 'up its game’ both in investing in alcohol services and in having sensible strategies to make sure the investment is well spent.”
