May 20 2004
The British Prime Minister today warned that binge drinking risks becoming the 'new British Disease' unless new powers to confront the problem are used.
Mr Blair said there is a "clear and growing problem" in British town and city centre streets on Friday and Saturday nights.
"At a time when overall crime is falling alcohol related violent crime is rising," he said at an Institute for Public Policy Research event.
"New powers are there. They need to be used."
A police led campaign to cut down on under-age drinking and excessive drink-fuelled revelry will be launched this summer.
Alcohol-fuelled violence has become a regular feature of town and city centres at weekend closing times. Almost half of all violent crime is related to alcohol.
Around 70 per cent of weekend A&E admissions are drink-related, alcohol abuse results in 17 million lost working days, 150,000 hospital admissions and costs the taxpayer around £20 billion each year.
The Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, published earlier this year, aims to tackle the minority of drinkers who cause problems.
Study links heavy drinking to increased heart disease risk in young women