New figures have been released showing the full impact of alcohol addiction in the South East.

Addiction treatment experts are urging Councils across the South East to “listen to the numbers” when it comes to the impact of alcohol abuse. The call comes after Public Health England revealed alcohol related hospital admissions across the South East reached over 160,000 people.

Slough was the third worst area across the South East for admission episodes for alcohol related conditions. There were approximately 609 admissions per 100,000 people in Slough, which is just above the South East average of 515.

In comparison, Windsor and Maidenhead had 479 admissions per 100,000. Although both are below the national average of 632, only Milton Keynes and Southampton had more admission episodes with 652 and 719 respectively in the region.

With 14% of all hospital admissions coming as a result of alcohol, CEO of addiction treatment specialists UKAT, Eytan Alexander, said: “The numbers speak for themselves; thousands of people across the South East hospitalised because of alcohol and worse still, staggering rises in alcohol related deaths.

“It's time to admit that there is a problem here, and we call on Councils across the South East to make better budget decisions this coming April and to invest more of their Public Health Grant into local drug and alcohol treatment services, as well as early intervention and awareness campaigns in order to support those most vulnerable.”