Middle-aged boozers have contributed to record numbers being admitted to hospital for being drunk.
Drinking alcohol was the main reason for 358,000 admissions to hospital in 2018/19, according to NHS Digital data.
It is the highest level in England since records began in 2003, shows a 6% rise from 338,000 in 2017/18 and is up from 237,000 in 2003/04.
Diagnosis ranged from “acute intoxication” and “withdrawal state”. Those aged between 45 and 64 accounted for 40% of cases.
Laura Bunt, of the charity Addaction, said: “The group most at risk are older adults. Divorce, bereavement, financial issues or retirement can leave people feeling isolated. Harmful alcohol use among older adults is often hidden.”
A broader measure shows 1.3million admissions in 2018/19 were due to booze, which is one in 14 of all visits.
Men and women aged 55 to 64 are the most likely to exceed the maximum recommended 14 units of alcohol a week.
Almost 6,000 deaths were caused by alcohol last year. Sir Ian Gilmore, of the Alcohol Health Alliance, urged a 2% rise in alcohol duty and minimum pricing in England.
Ian Hudspeth, of the Local Government Association, said: “Councils need long-term investment in health services.”
Nuno Albuquerque, of UK Addiction Treatment, said: “Alcohol is a ticking time bomb about to explode.” Industry body the Alcohol Information Partnership called for measures to help target the “minority of problem drinkers”.
Public Health Minister Jo Churchill said: “Care teams will be introduced in hospitals with the highest number of alcohol-related admissions. We expect this to prevent 50,000 admissions over five years.”
