According to government figures revealed in the UK, six per cent of all hospital admissions are related to illness or injuries caused by alcohol.
These figures equate to in excess of 800,000 people each year being admitted to hospital with illnesses and injuries incurred as a result of alcohol and are four times higher than the official figure.
The figures come from the latest National Health Service (NHS) admissions data and they show that the impact of alcohol on communities in Britain had previously been significantly underestimated.
These latest figures on alcohol abuse for the first time include drink-induced accidents, disease and violence and paint an ugly picture.
In the past government reviews only included the three most common types of alcohol-related diseases - alcoholic liver disease, alcohol poisoning and mental disorders.
Experts believe alcohol misuse and abuse costs the UK between £17.7bn and £25.1bn each year and there are increasing levels of alcohol abuse among young people.
According to government estimates young people are more likely to drink heavily - 42% of men and 36% of women aged 16-24 consume more than the daily recommendations.
In a new government alcohol strategy aimed at tackling the problem called 'Changing our Drinking Culture', a public consultation on drinking will look at the impact of "happy hours" in bars and clubs and consider the introduction of health warnings on bottles and cans and whether retailers and manufacturers are doing enough to promote sensible drinking.
The government is also considering whether pubs should be serving smaller drinks.
Britain's chief medical officer has called for a zero drink-driving limit on all drivers under 20 and the Home Secretary has pledged to stamp out binge drinking among teenagers through new tough community measures.