LEVELS OF ALCOHOLISM

That this House notes with concern the huge increase in recent years of alcohol-related deaths, now totalling 15,000 annually; further notes with concern that every day more than 1,500 men and women are admitted to hospital, an increase of 65 per cent. since 2005, because of alcohol; further notes that every year more than 400,000 brawls, burglaries, sexual assaults and other crimes are fuelled by alcohol, according to a report by academics at Liverpool John Moore's University's Centre for Public Health, using statistics collected by the Home Office and Department of Health; is deeply concerned that deaths caused by alcohol are predicted to double over the next 20 years if binge drinking continues; and calls on the Government to proceed with urgency to limit opening hours of licensed premises and ban below cost sales of alcohol.