Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, today raised concerns about the high levels of alcohol abuse in the Pendle area. The latest Local Alcohol Profiles for England released this week show that Pendle has the 37th worst record of Alcohol-specific hospital admission for under 18 year olds out of 326 local authorities in England.
 
The MP commented: “The East Lancashire NHS has been given extra funding by the Department of Health to tackle alcohol related hospital admissions across the area and these latest figures illustrate the extent of the problem.”
 
“Although the Pendle figures are better than the North West regional averages, and generally better than other East Lancashire districts, there is still a long way to go in tackling alcohol abuse, particularly among young people.”
 
“A recent YouGov poll showed 62% of the public think advertising of alcohol aimed at young people should be banned. In the past, death from alcohol liver disease in France was more than 10 times higher than in UK, now the relationship is reversed. In France most alcohol advertising is banned, with a marked decline in associated problems, especially among young people. In the UK rising spending on advertising is mirrored in rising consumption among 11 to 15 year olds.”
 
The local Alcohol Profiles for England are produced by North West Public Health Observatory for the Department of Health. See www.nwph.net/alcohol/lape