430 children treated for drink illness every year .

This includes up to 50 children suffering chronic conditions, including a small number with liver disease. Data compiled for a confidential government working group on alcohol and drugs shows that 4,346 children under 18 were admitted and discharged from hospital for alcohol conditions between 1995 and 2004.

The number has more than doubled, from 260 in 1995 to 579 in 2004. It reached a peak in 2001 (674).

Up to 500 children were treated for chronic alcohol conditions over the 10 years. The report said it usually took some years of “hazardous drinking” to develop chronic conditions, such as abuse, dependency and psychological disorders.

“In 2004 alone, there were 45 discharges aged 17 or less with chronic conditions, which places the young people involved at great risk or premature mortality due to alcohol,” said the draft report.

The report said the 4,346 children accounted for almost 7,700 admissions, indicating some were treated more than once.

Including all age groups, a total of 140,000 people have been admitted for alcohol conditions over the 10 years, from 9,254 in 1995 to 17,378 in 2004.

Males accounted for 75% of admissions. In children, girls accounted for 47% of cases. The number of boys doubled between 1995 and 2004 (from 152 to 309). The number of girls jumped by 150% (108 to 270).

“If alcohol consumption among young women continues to follow trends, epidemiologists predict that it is likely that in the future the number of middle-aged women experiencing alcohol-related morbidity will increase substantially,” said the report.

The figures come from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry database, which covers admissions. It does not include those who were treated in A&E units, but not admitted.

The working group said there were 11,745 cases of intentional injuries involving alcohol between 1995 and 2004. Some 70% were in the 15-34 age group.

Details of the working groups comes as a paper today calls for a ban on all alcohol advertising.

Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, The Irish Examiner, 16/09/2008