1,100 Scots underage drinkers admitted to hospital

Published on Monday 12 May 2008 22:12

ALMOST 1,100 underage drinkers were admitted to hospital last year after abusing alcohol, figures showed yesterday.

Statistics found 1,095 people under the age of 18 were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related problems.

Glasgow came out worst when the figures were broken down by council area, accounting for 121 of those admissions.

However, the overall tally for 2006-7 was down from the figure of 1,235 admissions recorded five years ago.

The statistics were revealed by Shona Robison, the public health minister, in answer to a parliamentary question from Margaret Smith, a Liberal Democrat MSP.

The figures are likely to underestimate the scale of the problem as not all of those who attend accident and emergency departments will be admitted to hospital.

Ms Robison said: "One young person admitted to hospital because of alcohol or drugs misuse is one too many. We recognise we must get better at diverting young people from misusing alcohol."