Hospitals in England recorded 207,788 alcohol-related admissions in 2006/07, according to the latest figures.

The number has more than doubled from the 93,459 reported in 1995/96.

The official figures were released by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

A breakdown showed there were 57,142 NHS hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis specifically related to alcohol in 2006/07.

Of these admissions, almost one in ten (4,888) involved youngsters under the age of 18 and more than two-thirds involved men.

The most common reason for admission among this group of 57,142 admissions was for mental and behavioural disorders due to drinking.

There was a total of 40,872 admissions with a primary diagnosis of this kind, while the second most common reason was alcoholic liver disease.

There were 14,668 admissions where alcoholic liver disease was the primary diagnosis.

The toxic effect of alcohol accounted for a further 1,602 admissions.

In 2007, doctors also prescribed 112,267 prescription items for drugs for treating alcohol dependency.

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern said: "The new figures showing a rise in alcohol-related hospital admissions confirm everything we've heard from the frontline staff who deal with the after effects of heavy drinking.

"What is however particularly dispiriting is the news that the number of people who aren't familiar with the recommended limits has actually gone up.

"The Government needs to shape a response that meets the challenges thrown up by this bulletin.

"Information campaigns are a great first step, but we also need urgent investment in treatment systems that help steer problem drinkers away from harmful behaviour before they develop chronic conditions."

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