Londoners 'less likely to drink'

The report suggests Londoners binge-drink less

Londoners are less likely to drink alcohol than in other areas of England, a new report has suggested.

Young Londoners are also less likely to use drugs than youngsters living in other parts of the country, the report published by the Mayor of London said.

But the report did find London had a higher proportion of dependent drinkers than the English average - 5% compared to an average of 3.6%.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said the report would help tackle abuse in London.

The report was launched at a ceremony in London on Monday.

It found that 20.3% of young people aged 16 to 24 took drugs in 2005/06 compared to 25.2% nationally in England and Wales, according to data from the British Crime Survey.

'Scale and complexity'

It found Londoners drink less and less often than in other part of England, and are less likely to binge-drink.

But the number of criminals entering drug treatment programmes was on the rise - between 2004/05 and 2005/06 the number rose 19%.

The report looks at the nature of drug and alcohol use in London, and also variations across the capital.

Mr Livingstone said: "The report shows us once again that the drugs and alcohol situation in London is unique.

"It reveals the scale and complexity of the challenges that we face, re-emphasising the necessity for partnership working to reduce the harm caused by drug and alcohol use."