THE number of hospital admissions linked to alcohol has doubled in ten years, suggesting the country's binge-drinking culture is taking its toll.

Official data reveals that the number of admissions to NHS hospitals in England rose by seven per cent, from 193,637 in 2005-6 to 207,788 in 2006-7.

This is more than double the 93,459 figure for 1995-6, according to the report from the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

A breakdown showed there were 57,142 NHS hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis related to alcohol in 2006-7, up 52 per cent since 1995-6.

Of these admissions, almost one in ten involved youngsters under the age of 18 and more than two-thirds involved men.

The report also revealed that the situation in the North-East and North Yorkshire is particularly bad.

In 2003-4, there were 12,769 alcohol- related admissions to the region's hospitals.

Three years later, in 2007-8, that figure had risen by almost a third to 18,950.

The most common reason for admission nationally was for mental and behavioural disorders because of drinking, with the second most common reason being alcoholic liver disease.

Liver specialist Professor Roger Williams, who treated former footballer George Best until his death in November 2005, said: "The relentless rise in hospital admissions involving more and more young people is very bad news.

"The main source of cheap alcohol for young people is supermarkets.

"By making alcohol a loss leader they provide alcohol incredibly cheaply and people can get hold of it any time day or night."

Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, added: "These figures show a depressing rise in all the indicators of drink-related damage to health.

"Much of this is fuelled by deep discounting of alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences, and this should be the focus of Government action."