Up to 800,000 people are being admitted to hospital each year as a result of drinking too much alcohol, the Government has revealed.

 

The number of patients receiving treatment for alcohol-related conditions is rising by 10 per cent every year, with cases of alcoholic liver disease trebling between 1995 and 2007.

 

Ministers are expected to unveil a new strategy aimed at changing Britain's drinking culture, which costs the NHS £1.7bn every year.

 

Should the Government be spending more money on tackling drinking? Do awareness campaigns have any impact on people's drinking habits?

 

Should the NHS continue to shoulder the burden of reckless behaviour?

 

Why has alcohol abuse become so endemic in the UK?

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

I think there should be a 2 strikes and you are out system in terms of the NHS

 

Someone who drinks themselves into oblivion once should be treated on the NHS, accidents happen, drink can be spiked or whatever, if they ever do it again after that in the future then they pay the full cost of their treatment or don't get treated

I don' think the point of the article is one-off 'stomach pump' incidents - more the long term effects of drinking too much over a prolonged period. Can't say this surprises me much - been on my mind a lot over the past few weeks.

I think there should be a 2 strikes and you are out system in terms of the NHS

 

Someone who drinks themselves into oblivion once should be treated on the NHS, accidents happen, drink can be spiked or whatever, if they ever do it again after that in the future then they pay the full cost of their treatment or don't get treated

 

 

You're forgetting about the people who have serious drinking problems, or do you think the same should happen to them as well?

 

 

You're forgetting about the people who have serious drinking problems, or do you think the same should happen to them as well?

 

I am not talking about people with long term problems I am talking by and large with young binge drinkers, people with alcohol addiction problems are not the ones I am referring to :)

 

I am not talking about people with long term problems I am talking by and large with young binge drinkers, people with alcohol addiction problems are not the ones I am referring to :)

 

Thats ok then, because someone with big alcohol problems need help, not turning away.

 

I think I'll pm you the rest of this reply because i dont want to make it public :)