Booze bill keeps on growing

For most of us the price of a good night out on the town is a light wallet and heavy head the following morning.

Sensible alcohol consumption is not always pain free, but it has few detrimental effects on society.

It’s when booze is abused that society pays the price. And, as the figures we reveal today show, we are paying through the nose.

The breakdown is breathtaking, painting a picture that shows alcohol abuse affecting almost every part of our community.

The health risks have long been documented, but the price being paid by the NHS and healthcare services is now approaching £24million.

But while many a life may often end there, the bill doesn’t.

Crime and disorder, which sees thousands of cases of criminal damage, theft and violence, cost our community £33.6million.

The biggest cost of booze abuse is to business.

Lost productivity through workers taking time off to recover from booze, hit the Sunderland economy by £38.7million.

That costs every man, woman and child in Sunderland £403.

Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, makes no bones about the biggest cause of this problem - they blame cheap strong booze.

For this reason they are calling on the government to act and introduce minimum pricing on alcohol effectively bringing an end to cheap booze.

It’s a move that rankles with the occasional and sensible drinker who doesn’t see why they should pay for other people’s problems.

As the figures show, we’re paying the price now. Unless we end cheap booze, the bill will just keep on growing.