Most people suffering from a drink problem are not getting the help they need, according to official figures.
Department of Health statistics, published in a written answer to Parliament, have shown that just one in 18 problem-drinkers are able to access treatment services, said the charity Alcohol Concern.
The charity has condemned this “postcode lottery”, highlighting worrying regional variations, with less than one in 100 problem-drinkers accessing support services in some parts of the country.
Alcohol Concern director of policy and public affairs Geethika Jayatilaka said the reality was that the majority of those with a drink problem could not access any treatment at all.
“Alcohol misuse is one of the biggest public health problems facing this country,” she said.
