MORE than 110,000 people in East Yorkshire have been taken to hospital suffering from alcohol-related injuries and illnesses in the past year.
Just 477 of those admitted for treatment were aged 16 to 24, while 2,468 were over 75.
A new Alcohol Harm Map, produced by Alcohol Concern, shows 56,582 patients living in the East Riding and 54,445 from Hull went to hospital with alcohol-related problems in the past year.
Colin Inglis, chairman of Hull's health and wellbeing board, said people drinking too much are risking their health and leading to large costs for society.
He said the number of older drinkers was of particular concern.
"We need to get that message across more clearly and deal more effectively with the hidden, perhaps solitary, drinking that is occurring across the city, people who are perhaps lonely and isolated and finding solace in drink," he said.
There were 6,455 people in Hull who needed to be admitted to hospital for treatment. Just 323 were aged between 16 and 24, while 974 people over 75 were admitted.
In the East Riding, 154 of the 7,006 people requiring inpatient treatment were aged 16 to 24. Of those admitted to hospital, 1,494 were over 75.
The map shows there were 276 alcohol-related deaths in Hull and the East Riding last year.
Councillor Jonathan Owen, a member of East Riding's health, care and wellbeing overview and scrutiny sub-committee, said: "The main concern to me is the middle-aged, middle-class drinking at home, it is not the binge drinkers or a problem with youngsters."
Councillor Barbara Jefferson, also a member of the sub-committee, said: "Perhaps in the old days, we didn't drink as much when we actually went out and socialised, but now, people are drinking at home from these massive glasses and they don't realise they are drinking to the limit."
Harm Map at a glanceHULL• 25.7 per cent drinking at a level that increases the risk of damage to health• 54,445 alcohol-related hospital admissions and attendances• 34,158 admissions to A&E• 6,455 inpatient admissions• 13,831 outpatients• £74 in alcohol-related health costs per case• 112 alcohol-related deathsEAST RIDING• 27.3 per cent drinking at a level that increases the risk of damage to health• 56,582 alcohol-related hospital admissions and attendances• 31,758 admissions to A&E• 7,006 inpatient admissions• 17,818 outpatients• £59.55 in alcohol-related health costs per case• 164 alcohol-related deaths• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
• Health news for Hull and East Yorkshire
