CHEAP alcohol is contributing to the soaring number of North-East pensioners dying and being admitted to hospital, experts claim.

The number of North-East pensioners admitted to hospital for alcohol-related reasons has increased by 77 per cent since 2006.

Across the country, figures show a 93 per cent increase in alcohol-related deaths for over-55s and a 79 per cent increase for over 75s between 1994 and 2013.

North-East Alcohol Office Balance is now calling for more to be done to protect older people as statistics show one in five of the region’s over-65s drink more than the Government’s recommended limits.

Balance director Colin Shevills believes a minimum unit price of at least 50p would control the sale of cheap alcohol.

He said: “The figures around alcohol and older people are worrying to say the least and more needs to be done around identifying these problems and more importantly prevention.

“To save lives, we must make alcohol less affordable.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said the new figures were worrying.

He added: “So many of these hospital admissions are avoidable and the stark figures are likely to be an under-estimate as many alcohol-related hospital admissions slip under the radar.

“We need urgent government action – our NHS simply cannot continue to carry the burden of alcohol misuse in people of any age.”

The call for action follows a Parliamentary debate, on alcohol harm and older people led by Fiona Bruce MP.