THE impact of alcohol abuse on a North-East community has highlighted the need for action across the region.

Delegates at the first conference of its kind in the North-East heard how the misuse of alcohol in Sunderland had resulted in:

* A thousand drink-related arrests last year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.

* An annual cost to the local NHS of £1.2m, leading to resources being taken from other areas of the health service.

* Increasing numbers of newly diagnosed patients with alcohol-related liver and pancreas problems, including many women.

Speaking at the conference, Superintendent Michael Hartnack, from Northumbria Police, criticised the "irresponsible" promotion of cheap drinks by some licensees. He also said officers were seeing "nasty types of assaults" at weekends.

Dr Judy Thomas, director of public health at Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (STPCT), who chaired the conference, said: "We would be able to spend more on other services if we did not have to pick up the pieces in A and E."

Dr Thomas said a heavy drinking culture was not confined to Wearside but was common across the region.

She said that while young men were the worst for binge drinking, which can lead to violence, accidents and hospital admission, women in Sunderland were catching up.

The conference was held to discuss a three-year plan to address alcohol problems in the city.

Ideas include promoting sensible drinking, increasing education about the dangers of excess drinking and providing better support and treatment for those who need help.