CAMPAIGNERS in the North-East have criticised the Government's fight against alcohol abuse as problems continue to worsen in the region.

North-East Regional Alcohol Forum (NERAF) chairman Kevan Martin last night spoke out against the lack of impact of the Government's, Alcohol Reduction Harm Strategy - days after The Northern Echo highlighted the dangerous addiction people were developing to alcohol.

Research published last week revealed people in the North are far more likely to binge on alcohol, be admitted to hospital and die younger than drinkers in the South.

The biggest binge drinkers live in the North-East and the North-West (23 per cent of adults) compared to those in the South and East of England (less than 16 per cent).

Mr Martin said: "Police, hospitals and affiliated organisations throughout the UK have already provided strong evidence that the Government's strategy was hasty and ill thought out.

"With up to 26 per cent of the North-East suffering from alcohol misuse, new action must now be considered."

He added: "It is now considered the norm that in the North-East alone, a patient will have to wait a minimum of nine months to access the help and treatment they need."

Mr Martin said it seemed that people were no longer just drinking socially, as 86 per cent of problem drinking arises in the home.

NERAF recently launched a website www.neraf.org.uk