Babies get treatment for alcohol

Several infants were admitted to hospital with problems

Infants under the age of one in Grampian have been admitted to hospital with alcohol-related illness.

Figures revealed under freedom of information legislation showed there were 165 under-16s admitted in the past three years with such problems.

Among those treated were two babies and a one-year-old, born to mothers with existing drink problems.

The figures showed the largest proportion affected were aged 13, with a total of 59.

'Greatest concern'

Doctors treated two 10-year-olds, 15 children aged 12, 32 aged 14, 37 aged 15, and 17 who were 16.

In addition, NHS Grampian also treated 23 infants under one with neo-natal abstinence syndrome (NAS), problems a baby experiences when withdrawing from exposure to certain substances.

North East Labour MSP Richard Baker said the figures highlighted child welfare issues as well as the "cultural problem with binge drinking" in the Grampian region.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: "Evidence suggests that the earlier children start to misuse alcohol, the more likely they are to develop problems in later life.

"Alcohol abuse is one of the three areas of greatest public health concern, along with obesity and diabetes, and tackling it is a priority for NHS Grampian."