Drinking Causes British Health System Problems

A new report has been issued warning that the country's notorious drinking habit is putting an unacceptable strain on hospitals and their medical staff. The National Health Service, Britain’s taxpayer-funded medical system, spends nearly $4.5 billion a year treating patients for alcohol-related problems, double the amount five years ago, the report says. The total funding for the health care system is around $162 billion a year.

The report was published by the NHS Confederation, a medical provider’s organization, and the Royal College of Physicians, which represents doctors. It warns that about 10.5 million adults in Britain drinks above the sensible limits, and 1.1 million have some form of alcohol addiction. The government recommends that men should not drink more than three or four units of alcohol per day, and women should not consume more than two or three. A small glass of wine or beer has just over one unit. A study at a hospital in Leeds found that one-fifth of all emergency room admissions were for alcohol-related problems, according to the report. At the current rate, the National Health Service cannot afford to continue treating alcohol-related problems at the current levels, and that health care provider’s need to more proactive in preventing adults from consuming too much alcohol. National statistics show a steady rise in the number of alcohol-related deaths among heavy drinkers in their 40s and 50s who have abused alcohol for decades. From 1991 to 2006, the number doubled to 8,758. The government’s top medical adviser has suggested raising the price on alcohol to help curb the binge drinking culture, and the government has promised to launch public awareness campaigns about the dangers of alcohol.