'Millions' of Londoners drinking to excess

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by Change | 26 Jan 2010

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Millions of Londoners are "sleepwalking" into alcohol addiction, a new commission has warned.

More Londoners could be in need of alcohol addiction support after the results of a new campaign produced some alarming results.

A public consultation organised by the Regional Public Health Group for the London Drink Debate campaign warned that the capital's residents are "sleepwalking" into alcohol addiction, the London Evening Standard reports.

This trend is characterised by more people drinking at home, with binge-drinking in bars and pubs less of a concern, possibly because of the recession.

The good news for London is that it has less of an alcohol problem than the rest of Britain, although it is believed that two million people in the capital may be in need of alcohol addiction help.

Ex-alcoholic Michael Fitzpatrick told the newspaper that he sought addiction therapy following the death of his 33-year-old son. At the height of his addiction he was consuming a bottle of Southern Comfort and eight cans of Tennent's lager per day.

"I started drinking at 14 but it wasn't until I hit 27 that it became a problem. I lost my job then my wife left me," he explained.

"The turning point was when my son died - I started going to AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] and I don't touch drink now."

According to the NHS, approximately one in 13 people in the UK are dependent on alcohol, with several million more regularly drinking to excess.

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