€2.6bn - the high price of our binge drinking crisis

THE price of alcohol needs to rise and pub opening hours and off-licences must be limited to deal with binge drinking that is costing us €2.56 billion a year, a report warned yesterday.

With adults spending almost €2,000 annually on drink, the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol recommends increased taxes and restrictions on the issuing of new licences to combat the problem.

Although alcohol consumption fell for the first time in 16 years in 2003, the report says further tough measures are needed to reduce consumption.