Group calls for higher tax on booze

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It will also campaign for the drink driving limit to be reduced and a near zero limit for new drivers.

The Alliance is made up of 24 health organisations and is chaired by the Royal College of Physicians president, Professor Ian Gilmore.

It wants more dedicated funding for alcohol prevention and treatment strategies and more publicity about the negative effects of alcohol on health.

The Alliance cites evidence that a 10% hike in alcohol tax would cut alcohol-related deaths by between 10 and 30%.

Its figures show a 95% rise in alcohol liver cirrhosis rates since 2000 and a 36% increase in the two years to 2006.

Alcohol-related deaths increased 18% from 2002 to 2005. And 13 children per day are hospitalised as a result of alcohol misuse, the Alliance said.

Prof Gilmore said: "Unless we act now to stem the rising tide of excessive drinking, particularly in the young, we will see yet more people dying prematurely in early adult life."

The launch comes as a separate report released by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics called for tougher measures to curb alcohol misuse.

It criticised the existing Government strategy and said increasing alcohol tax and restricting hours of sale would be more effective tactics.