24% of adults 'risking health through alcohol'

मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला,
प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला,
पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा,
सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला।।१।

प्यास तुझे तो, विश्व तपाकर पूर्ण निकालूँगा हाला,
एक पाँव से साकी बनकर नाचूँगा लेकर प्याला,
जीवन की मधुता तो तेरे ऊपर कब का वार चुका,
आज निछावर कर दूँगा मैं तुझ पर जग की मधुशाला।।२।

Nearly a quarter of all adults are risking their health through hazardous drinking, according to official statistics released today.

The NHS Information Service said it estimates that a third of men and a sixth of women are drinking at a level which puts them at risk of physical or psychological harm. Within that group are "harmful drinkers" – 6% of men and 2% of women who are likely to suffer damage such as liver disease or depression.

The latest figures, which are for 2007, also show a big rise in the numbers of people admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions, including injuries from falls or fights. In 2007-08 there were 863,300 admissions linked to drinking, which is a 69% rise since 2002-03 when there were around 510,200.

Deaths linked to drinking are also on the rise. In 2007, in England, there were 6,541 deaths directly related to alcohol, which is an increase of 19% since 2001. Most of the deaths (4,249) were from alcoholic liver disease.

"Today's figures clearly show that alcohol misuse is one of the most serious public health problems facing the UK," said Alcohol Concern chief executive, Don Shenker. "The dramatic increase in admissions caused by alcohol consumption is a warning that unless action is taken, we face an escalating public health crisis and increasing pressure on the doctors and nurses working in our hospitals.