An estimated 1.22m hospital admissions in England were linked to drinking too much alcohol in 2011-12, according to NHS figures – a 51% rise over the past nine years.
Drug prescriptions to treat alcohol dependency outside hospital are also continuing to go up. Nearly 180,000 prescriptions were dispensed by doctors, nurses and pharmacists in 2012, 6% up in a year and nearly 75% more than in 2003.
Hospital admissions for which drink was the main cause rose to 200,900 in 2011-12, 1% more than the previous year, and more than 40% up on 2002-03.
Men accounted for three in five of the patients whose alcohol consumption was the main reason for admission. Admission rates were highest in north-west England and lowest in the east.
The bleak figures prompted doctors to call again for minimum alcohol pricing, which is the subject of a legal battle between the drinks industry and the Scottish government and is still formally under consideration in England although there is little ministerial appetite for it.
Nick Sheron, adviser on alcohol at the Royal College of Physicians, said the rise in prescriptions of drugs indicated "the huge strain alcohol abuse puts on our society" but focused on the admissions.
He added: "Today's statistics show that in 2012, hospitals in England admitted 200,900 cases where the main reason for admission was an alcohol-related condition.
"The rise in alcohol addiction is being driven by cheap alcohol. A minimum unit price for alcohol would effectively tackle this problem. In Canada, a 10% increase in minimum unit price caused a 32% reduction in deaths.
"Our own research in Southampton shows that a minimum unit price of 50p would, on average, cost patients with alcohol dependency and cirrhosis an additional £36 a week.
"The impact on moderate drinkers was less than 30p a week, because these patients simply do not drink the ultra-cheap, ultra-strong booze. Minimum unit pricing is targeted at very heavy drinkers whose families are devastated by the impact that drinking has on their lives."
Emily Robinson, director of campaigns at the charity Alcohol Concern, said that the government "must get a grip and implement measures that will prevent this urgent situation from getting worse … The real issue is the vast numbers of people who are not getting help for their alcohol addiction. We estimate that only one in 16 people with alcohol problems is receiving specialist help as there is just not enough treatment available."
A Department of Health spokesman said the figures proved alcohol was causing harm to the health of hundreds of thousands of people.
"That is why we are already improving prevention by funding alcohol risk assessments at GPs and encouraging increased access to alcohol liaison nurses in hospitals.
"The alcohol industry has also pledged to take one billion units out of the market by 2015 and we have consulted on a range of options to tackle irresponsible practices and strengthen local licensing powers."
A British Beer and Pub Association spokesman said: "Alcohol misuse remains a problem for a minority and is something we must all work to tackle. Nevertheless, key trends are moving in the right direction."
Guardian
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