EXPERTS today warned of a binge drinking epidemic among youngsters as it emerged cases of alcohol poisoning have soared in the Lothians to more than 100 a month.
The rise represents a 40 per cent increase in a year and the majority of cases are thought to be youngsters not knowing their limits and ending up in hospital after a night's drinking.
Figures show that last year there were 1338 admissions to Lothians hospitals – an increase of 227 per cent from four years ago and around 400 more than the previous 12 months.
The revelation has led to calls from politicians for even more action on cheap drinks and repeat offenders. But Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told the Evening News that policies due to go before parliament later this year should help reverse the statistics.
Lothians Conservative MSP Gavin Brown, whose question in the Scottish Parliament prompted the release of the data, said: "It is clear that the problem of alcohol misuse is one that we need to get to grips with quickly.
"Currently, underage people are being served alcohol, as are people who are already drunk and this has to stop and we need to be targeting problem drinks and problem drinkers in particular.
"The Scottish Government needs to come back with plans that will tackle the blight that alcohol has on many, and today's figures highlight just how much work needs to be done."
Death from alcoholism – with liver cancer deaths claiming 62 lives last year – has been a long talked about problem in the Lothians, as is the poverty divide in drink mortalities.
These figures show a wider problem among youngsters, whose bodies are not capable of enduring short-term binges, never mind the long-term effects.
Dr Jonathan Chick, Edinburgh University's senior lecturer in the school of molecular and clinical medicine – who specialises in issues of alcohol and alcoholism – said cheap drink was the main cause of the problem.
He said: "If you look at the price of say white cider in supermarkets you would be shocked at how many units of alcohol you can get for such a small price."
The majority of admissions for alcohol poisoning – 1101 – occurred at the ERI last year, with other people reporting to the Western General, St John's Hospital in Livingston and even the Sick Kids. The number has almost doubled since a decade ago, when there were only 716 admissions for alcohol poisoning, which usually means someone has lost consciousness.
Ms Sturgeon said: "We have proposed introducing minimum pricing for alcohol, which targets the high-strength, low-cost products that are doing the most harm to health.
"We are determined to get to grips with alcohol misuse."
• www.scotland.gov.uk• www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk 