Alcohol puts under-10s in hospital

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Over the past five years, a total of 648 under-10s were hospitalised because of alcohol.

The figures, contained in a parliamentary answer revealed by the Liberal Democrats, also showed that more than 24,000 children under 16 were admitted due to alcohol over the past five years.

Some 12,500 young people aged 16-17 were admitted to Accident and Emergency because of alcohol problems over the past five years - an increase of 95% from 2002 to 2007.

The Liberal Democrats highlighted the figures ahead of the launch of their strategy to tackle underage and binge drinking.

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

He said: "For so many children of such a young age to be hospitalised is scandalous. Ministers must conduct an urgent review of the systems in place which are meant to be ensuring that young children cannot have access to such harmful substances.

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

The figures from the Department of Health also showed that just over 600,000 adults were admitted with alcohol problems to English NHS trusts over the last five years.

Some 85,000 over-18s were admitted in 2002-03, while 153,000 were hospitalised in 2006-07 - an increase of 80%. On average, 130 children under 10 were admitted to hospital each year between 2002 and 2007, equating to an admission every 72 hours.