THE full-extent of alcohol-related problems in Wiltshire has been revealed in a major health report.
Shocking statistics show one in five adults in west and north Wiltshire engage in what is termed as hazardous drinking', while just under one in six engage in binge drinking.
Meanwhile, 11 per cent of primary school children aged nine to 11 have at least one alcoholic drink a week, and almost half of teenagers have unprotected sex as a result of drinking.
More than 200 people in Wiltshire die each year from alcohol specific mortalities such as liver disease and coronary heart disease.
The draft Alcohol Strategy paper for 2008 to 2011 highlights a need for more research into alcohol misuse and a better public understanding of safe drinking.
The paper was discussed at Wiltshire Primary Care Trust's board meeting on Tuesday as part of a three-month consultation process due to finish in June.
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It was compiled through a partnership between the PCT Wiltshire County Council and West Wiltshire District Council, drawing from information supplied by a number of sources including the police, the local drugs advisory service and Age Concern.
Figures show in Wiltshire from January to December 2007, there were 21,081 incidents of alcohol-related disorder with the highest prevalence in Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury.
Warminster town centre also showed a higher alcohol-related incident rate, in comparison to surrounding towns. Maggie Rae, joint director of public health for the PCT and the county council, said at the board meeting: "I imagine that the work we have been doing with illicit drug taking has probably over shadowed alcohol problems.
"It's not like smoking where we are saying stop doing it, we are saying do it in moderation but the message doesn't seem to be getting out.
"We have somehow got to readdress the message and make sure people drink sensibly.
"We have got to educate the adults and get the message out to children as well."
Figures show the number of adults in Wiltshire consuming hazardous amounts of alcohol, which is the equivalent of 15 to 35 units for women or 22 to 50 units for men, is higher than the national average.
For women hazardous' drinking is comparable to between 15 and 35 small glasses of wine per week, or for men it equates to between 11 and 25 pints of beer at 3.5 per cent.
Binge drinking is more than six units for women in one session (about six small glasses of wine) and eight units for men (four pints of beer).
The key aims of the paper are to raise awareness of sensible drinking, reduce the level of alcohol-related harm to children, to reduce the levels of ill health caused by alcohol resulting in fewer hospital admissions and to reduce alcohol related crime.
Christine Reed, a non-executive board member, reinforced a need to focus on providing information.
She said: "I'm not convinced a lot of people really, really know the damage drinking can do to your health. I don't know. I wouldn't recognise if I was doing myself harm.
"The problem is that information just doesn't seem to be available."
The draft strategy papers are available online at www. wiltshirepct.nhs.uk/GetInvolved/Alcohol/Consultation.htm
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