THE newly-formed Alcohol Health Alliance yesterday called for a higher taxes and a pre-9pm advertising ban for drink.

It will also campaign for the drink-driving limit to be reduced, with a near-zero limit for new drivers.

The alliance is made up of 24 health organisations and is chaired by Professor Ian Gilmore, the president of the Royal College of Physicians.

It wants greater dedicated funding for alcohol prevention and treatment strategies and more publicity about the negative effects of alcohol on health.

The alliance cites evidence that a 10 per cent hike in alcohol prices would cut alcohol-related deaths by between 10 and 30 per cent.

Its figures show a 95 per cent rise in alcohol liver cirrhosis rates since 2000 and a 36 per cent increase in the two years to 2006.

Alcohol-related deaths increased 18 per cent from 2002 to 2005. And 13 children per day are hospitalised as a result of alcohol misuse, the alliance said.

Prof Gilmore said: “Unless we act now to stem the rising tide of excessive drinking, particularly in the young, we will see yet more people dying prematurely in early adult life.”

The alliance is made up of medical bodies, patient representatives and alcohol campaign groups.

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