A third of cases drink-related: Drunks clog A&E

Even though this society is far less tolerant of alcohol abuse than it once was, especially drink driving, the behaviour continues to have an utterly disproportionate impact.

New research that reviewed weekend admissions in 29 hospital emergency departments found that just under a third of all cases were alcohol-related.

Anyone familiar with our hospitals’ emergency departments knows, unfortunately, that something pretty close to permanent chaos prevails.

That 30% of patients are there because of drink seems a tipping point on the road to madness.

Other countries use drunk tanks where people are confined until they sober up and, hopefully, learn a lesson.

In some cases they are charged for the experience.

Health authorities have undoubtedly toyed with this idea.

That it has not been proposed suggests difficulties.

Could it be that the prospect of litigation from sobered-up drunks is the issue?

It is easy to be sanctimonious about excessive drinking but our health workers and genuinely sick people should be protected from this kind of anti-social self-indulgence.