A recent study has suggested that there may be a link between the number of teenagers who are admitted to hospital to treat alcohol related problems and the number of off licences in a populated area.
Dr Nikki Coghill from the University of West of England analysed data from 214 out of the 293 local authorities around England (excluding London) between the year 2006 and 2009. She found that for every two off licences in an area with a population of 100,000 there was one teenager who was admitted to hospital for alcohol related problems.
The figures suggest that the concentration of off licences in a populated area may be responsible for 10% of the 19,367 hospital admissions for under age related drinking problems.
The report calls for the government to take action to control the number of off licences and grant powers to local authorities to allow them to take into account health issues when assessing off licence applications.
Don Shenker from Alcohol Concern believes that the granting of alcohol licences without considering the impact on the health of the local population is a failure in the current system. He said: “It is a sobering thought that the numbers of off-licences in any one area has an impact on under-18s drinking and ending up in hospital.”
Later this year, the Department of Health will publish a new alcohol strategy. They have said that they have taken action over problem drinking and are working on tougher licencing regulations.