Alcohol (Hansard, 24 June 2004)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to curb teenage alcohol consumption. [179826]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
[holding answer 23 June 2004]: Existing licensing legislation expressly prohibits the sale of alcohol to the under 18s and its consumption by them on licensed premises in certain circumstances. The implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 will further tighten these laws by extending their scope, increasing penalties, removing existing anomalies and making licences more instantly at risk of forfiet where offences take place.
My right hon. Friend, The Home Secretary announced on 11 June 2004 that the Home Office police standards unit, working in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, will be inviting forces and other partners from across the country to take part in a co-ordinated programme of enforcement and initiatives to tackle alcohol fuelled violence. The campaign includes targeting the irresponsible few who encourageunderage and binge drinking and targeting drunken behaviour. This takes forward one of the recommendations in the Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy for England.
The Department produces a number of leaflets for young people and their parents setting out the risks of alcohol misuse. The Department also plans to develop a range of new health promotion messages for binge drinkers, many of whom will be teenagers. The Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy for England set out the framework of a voluntary social responsibility scheme for alcohol producers and retailers. The Department and the Home Office will work with the drinks industry to develop this scheme.

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust have been treated for alcohol-related illness in each of the last five years. [180058]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The information requested is shown in the table.
1542W

Finished admissions into national health service hospitals for patients resident in Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust 1998–99 to 2002–03 with a primary diagnosis of "alcohol-related illness"

Finished admissions

1998–99 230

1999–2000 230

2000–01 204

2001–02 243

2002–03 246

Notes:

Finished Admission Episodes

A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

Ungrossed Data

Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Finished admissions into national health service hospitals for patients resident in Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust 1998–99 to 2002–03 with a primary diagnosis of "alcohol-related illness"
Finished admissions
1998–99	230
1999–2000	230
2000–01	204
2001–02	243
2002–03	246
Notes:
Finished Admission Episodes
A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
Ungrossed Data
Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.