Pub group questions A&E report
The British Beer and Pub Association has questioned the findings of a new study, based on figures at one hospital, which says the introduction of the new licensing laws trebled alcohol-related admissions to A&E departments.
Researchers studied admissions at London's St Thomas' Hospital and compared overnight visits before and after the 2005 law change.
It's very difficult to see how the increase in A&E admissions at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London has anything to do with the change in the licensing laws as Westminster Council did not grant any extensions to hoursMark Hastihngs, BBPA.
They found there were 80 alcohol-related visits in March 2005 compared to 250 in 2006 and pointed the finger at the new licensing act and extended pub hours.
However, Mark Hastings, director of communications at the BBPA, said it was a strange choice of hospital to carry out this study because the London borough serves had refused to extend pub hours despite the new law.
He said: "It's very difficult to see how the increase in A&E admissions at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London has anything to do with the change in the licensing laws as Westminster Council did not grant any extensions to hours."
Critics also say data from one hospital cannot be applied to the whole of England and Wales but the authors say their study was 'representative' of the problems in inner city areas across the country.
They told the BBC: "If reproduced over longer time periods and across the UK as a whole, the additional numbers of patients presenting to emergency care could be very substantial."
The report also conflicts with earlier research in November 2006 - one year on from the act - which several NHS trusts reported that they had yet to see any adverse changes.
