6,500 LONDONERS DIED FROM ALCOHOL ILLNESSES SINCE 1997 - LIB DEMS

4.41.08pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Jun 2005

New figures released by Liberal Democrat London Spokesperson, Sarah Teather MP, show that since 1997 more than 2 people a day die of an alcohol-related illness in London.

The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary answer to Ms Teather shows that between 1997 and 2004, 6,418 people died of an alcohol-related death. Brent is one of the Boroughs with the highest rates if deaths from alcohol.

The Boroughs with the highest number of alcohol related deaths since 1997 are:-

Ealing with 284

Camden with 279

Lambeth with 276

Brent with 273

Croydon with 266

Sarah Teather MP said:

"Alcohol is one of the most dangerous and damaging drugs in Britain today.

"Excessive boozing kills four times as many people as drug abuse. It is one of the main causes of anti-social, aggressive and violent behaviour.

"It causes huge problems for London's Health Service. Every weekend A&E departments are overwhelmed by the effects of binge drinking while the rest of the health service has to cope with treating the effects of long term alcohol abuse such as liver damage and heart disease.

"There must be more research into the problem, better education, clearer labeling, and a real effort by Ministers to fully implement their delayed alcohol strategy."