Hospitals treat drunk under-10s

The Lib Dems say underage and binge drinking need to be tackled

A child under 10 is treated in hospital for the effects of alcohol every three days, government statistics show.

In total, 648 under-10s in England were hospitalised with alcohol problems between 2002 and 2007. Among the under-16s that figure rose to 24,000.

The Liberal Democrats revealed the data from a Parliamentary answer on the eve of the launch of their campaign to tackle underage and binge drinking.

The government said fewer young people now drink but those who do drink more.

Lib Dem culture spokesman Don Foster said the government had "completely failed" to tackle Britain's "growing alcohol problem".

Guidance for schools is clear that pupils' education about alcohol and its effects should start in primary school, before drinking patterns become established Government spokesman

"For so many children of such a young age to be hospitalised is scandalous," he said.

He went on to urge ministers to conduct an urgent review of the systems which should be ensuring young children do not have access to alcohol.

He added: "Only a complete change to our drinking culture will prevent a whole generation of young people from being condemned to serious alcohol-related illnesses."

Action plan

The hospital admission figures from the Department of Health relate to episodes where the patient's records mentioned mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use, alcoholic liver disease or the toxic effect of alcohol.

There was some evidence that the number of young people affected by alcohol was growing.

Some 12,500 16 to 17 year olds were admitted to accident and emergency after drinking too much - a rise of 95% from 2002 to 2007.

Over that five-year period, 600,000 adults needed hospital treatment for alcohol-related complaints.

A government spokesman said young drinkers are "probably unaware of the damage they are doing to their health".

"It's essential that young people and their parents have clear, medical guidance.

"For this reason, the Chief Medical Officer is producing a new set of guidelines on young people and alcohol as part of the government's Youth Alcohol Action Plan.

"Guidance for schools is clear that pupils' education about alcohol and its effects should start in primary school, before drinking patterns become established."