Clubbing Threats: Alcohol Ten Times More Dangerous Than Drugs

Clubbers are ten times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of alcohol induced violence than from taking illegal drugs, according to frightening new research published in the Emergency Medicine Journal.

A study of clubbers attending hospital emergency rooms in Liverpool discovered that 57% of admissions were due to assault, with 20% of those involving clubbers being "bottled" (ie attacked with broken bottles or glasses).

"We have found that alcohol- not substance misuse- and alcohol related injuries account for the majority of clubbers' use of the medical emergency services," the study's authors revealed, concluding that "the huge public concern about drugs on the club scene ignored the enormous role played by alcohol" (The Standard). 10% of the assaults also involved club bouncers (security).

The study coincided with a report by Alcohol Concern which revealed that 37% of British blokes aged between 16 and 24 regularly binge drink. Even more ominously, almost half of 15 and 16 year olds "go on a booze-up at least once a week" (Mirror) with typical underage drinkers now drinking twice as much as those from ten years ago.
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