Goddard slams scandal of Oxford children hospitalised for booze

3.33.00pm GMT Tue 11th Nov 2008

A child under 10 is admitted to A&E because of alcohol every 72 hours, according to figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats. The party highlighted the figures as part of the launch of their strategy to tackle underage and binge drinking. The information, contained in a Parliamentary answer, also showed in the last five years:

• 24,000 admissions of children under 16 for alcohol-related reasons, a 17% increase over the last five years

• 13,000 admissions of young people aged 16-17 to A&E for alcohol-related reasons, a 95% increase over the last five years

• 640,000 admissions of over-18s to A&E for alcohol-related reasons, an 80% increase over the last five years

In addition, in Oxford's Radcliffe Hospitals Trust, in 2006-07, 42 under-16s and 40 children aged 16-17 were hospitalised for reasons relating to alcohol. Commenting, Steve Goddard, Lib Dem parliamentary challenger for Oxford East said:

"The Government has talked a lot about the growing alcohol problem, but completely failed to tackle it. Britain is in danger of sinking in to an epidemic of alcohol-related illness. We cannot continue to ignore the seriousness of the health crisis facing this country.

"For so many children of such a young age to be hospitalised, here in Oxford and across the country, 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."

To help tackle the problems of booze Britain, the Lib Dems have launched proposals including:

• Stopping irresponsible drink promotions by introducing a minimum price for alcohol.

• Putting an end to the sale of alcohol to children by imposing a 'one strike and you're out' policy.

• Protecting Accident & Emergency staff by fining disruptive drunks in hospital A&E departments.

Steve Goddard commented:

"We owe it to our children to deal with the problem of alcohol in our society. These proposals would be a good start in doing that".