Revealed: Alcohol puts 800,000 drinkers a year in hospital

More than 800,000 people a year are being admitted to hospital with alcohol-related illnesses and injuries, according to official figures leaked ahead of publication today.

It means alcohol is to blame for six per cent of hospital admissions - one in every 16 - and more than four times the number previously acknowledged.

The new figures, which include cases of cancer, heart disease and stroke caused by drink, show the true impact of alcohol on the NHS.

Their release coincides with the publication of the Government's plans for tackling Britain's binge-drinking culture.

The Department of Health would not comment yet on the figures, reported by the Daily Telegraph ahead of the official announcement.

The latest Government proposals, being unveiled today by Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo, could see tighter regulation of the drinks industry, including a ban on happy hours in pubs and clubs.

It comes after a report, commissioned by the Home Office and carried out by audit firm KPMG, recommended a complete overhaul of laws governing the alcohol industry.

It found rules were regularly flouted to allow 'irresponsible and harmful practices'.

These included:

• The sale of alcohol to people under 18;

• Sales of alcohol to 'blatantly intoxicated' people;

• The promotion of excessive drinking through cut-price offers.

The report concluded that 'the commercial imperative generally overrides adherence' to a voluntary code.

Drinks promotions and happy hours are currently regulated by individual pub companies.

For the study, KPMG conducted observation studies over a five-day period in eight locations across England, visiting almost 600 premises, including pubs, bars, clubs, off-licences and supermarkets.

Today Ms Primarolo was set to launch a new consultation, discuss the KPMG report, and publish fresh alcohol statistics and the interim findings from two reviews.

The first review, from experts at Sheffield University, has been examining the link between pricing promotion and drinking.

The second, from the Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association, has been assessing the impact of alcohol labelling.

A report by Alcohol Concern, published last week, found that current industry self-regulation was ineffective, and cut-price drinks deals were commonplace.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the government reviews, but said new legislation should cover all alcohol retailers.

Mark Hastings, the association's director of communications, said at the weekend: 'No-one in the industry would have any problem with the Government seeking to regulate irresponsible drinks promotions, but we would expect such regulations to be directed not only towards pubs, but supermarkets and corner shops too.

'It should not be one rule for pubs and one rule for everyone else.'