The number of teenagers admitted to hospital with alcohol poisoning rose 48% last year, compared with 2008, according to new figures from child medicine monitoring group NSCK.

The average age of the 500 plus children who ended up on children’s wards after drinking too much was 15.7 years, but there was a sharp increase in 16 and 17 year olds becoming ill, the organisation said.
The NSCK said the total figure is likely to be higher than 500 because not all drunk teenagers are seen by a specialist children’s doctor.
Two weeks ago, MPs put a stop to government plans to allow local councils to raise the legal drinking age to 18. Labour MPs decided not to support the proposal because of fears it could lead to alcohol tourism.
Health ministry research earlier this year showed teenagers who drink so much alcohol that they end up in hospital are most likely to get drunk at a friend’s house.