by Jo Earle

Nearly one in five adults living in West Kent is at serious risk of developing liver disease by drinking too much alcohol, according to figures from the NHS in West Kent.

In 2007/08 343 people in West Kent were admitted to hospital for conditions wholly caused by drinking too much, including liver disease.

These figures come after the first "Big Drink Debate" at the Hazlitt Arts Centre in Maidstone this week.

People were asked to have their say about drinking habits and the impact they have on their health and lives and representatives from the NHS, police and the alcohol industry answered questions and responded to comments.

Linda Prickett, Public Health Specialist at NHS West Kent said before the meeting:

"The debate is to try and work out people's drinking habits and how drinking too much seriously affects people's health. We really want people to come along and tell us what they think

"We'll have some key questions for people to think about and that might be if it is older or younger drinkers we should be worried about or if we should be worried about drinking at home or at the pub."

According to Linda Prickett over the last 20 years people in their thirties are being admitted to hospital for liver disease problems more typical for people who were in their 50s.

"Death rates for under sixties from liver disease are going up and they are going up sharply. Liver disease is avoidable by not over using alcohol and keeping to a healthy weight as well.

"We are finding now admissions to hospital now from alcohol harm are people who are that much older who drink maybe 3 to 4 glasses of wine a night. Effectively if you are drinking up to a bottle of wine a night you are binge drinking."

It may be a shock to read these statistics:

• In 2007 / 08 there were 5,036 admissions to hospital through A&E in West Kent for alcohol-related conditions costing around £3m
• This compares with 2,262 in 2002/03
• 16-41 per cent of suicides in West Kent are attributable to alcohol use
• In 2008/09 1,124 people per 100,00 population were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related harm
• 15.2 per cent of people in West Kent binge drink
• The average age of death from liver disease is 59 years, compared to 82-84 years for heart and lung disease or stroke.

If you are worried about how much you or your family drink call the Wealden Centre on 01732 370413