Binge-drinking blamed for rise in hospital admissions

ADMISSIONS of drunk people to acute hospitals have shot up by 80%, a study found yesterday.

Specialists in the North Eastern Health Board area who conducted a four-year review blamed the increase on binge-drinking. While the increase in drunkenness affected all age groups, including the over 70s, the problem was more acute among men under 30.

There were 777 acute alcohol intoxication admissions in 2001 compared with 432 in 1997. The total over the whole period was 3,289, including 558 repeat admissions.