130 pre-teens in hospital for alcohol-linked mental scars

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 22:12

MORE than 100 children under the age of 13 were admitted to hospital in Scotland suffering mental problems linked to alcohol last year, figures show.

Answers to a parliamentary question by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie showed that 133 under-13s went into hospital in 2007/08 with alcohol-related mental or behavioural problems.

A further 788 youngsters aged 14 to 17 were also admitted for the same conditions, along with more than 20,000 over-18s.

Yesterday, Mr Finnie said: "These figures are very concerning. We already know that alcohol abuse is Scotland's shame, but these figures show the true extent of the long-lasting damage it can have on individual's lives.

"It is simply shocking that 133 young children were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related mental health problems last year.

"It is clear that much more must be done to combat the rise in alcohol-related mental health problems across all ages in Scotland."

The Scottish Government has set out radical plans to tackle alcohol misuse.

These include measures to introduce a minimum price for alcohol – most likely to be between 40p and 50p per unit.

However, to get the plan through the Scottish Parliament, the SNP must receive backing from other parties.