Drunks clogging up ambulances
Twelve West Australians a day are so drunk they need to be treated by ambulance paramedics, with half needing to go to hospital, figures show.
St John Ambulance has revealed that 4552 ambulances were called out to treat alcohol intoxication last year, including 372 children and teenagers - 10 of them aged under 12.
It compares with 4383 alcohol-related call-outs in 2013.
More than 2700 patients, or 60 per cent of call-outs, were so intoxicated that they had to be taken to hospital for assessment or care.
SJA acting metropolitan ambulance general manager Angela Wright said the continuing trend of big numbers of alcohol-related call-outs was a concern.
"Despite the focus on education about the dangers of alcohol, we are seeing many cases of poor judgment and the repercussions of excessive drinking of alcohol can be life-changing," she said.
"While some might have to spend a day or two in a hospital bed recovering from the effects of alcohol, others end up in serious car crashes or succumb to physical violence and end up with severe injuries."
Ms Wright said the ambulance service supported programs and education that diverted people away from alcohol and drugs.
McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth executive officer Julia Stafford said the latest figures were alarming, particularly because they were the tip of the iceberg.
"The figures do not include road crashes, assault injuries, falls or other situations where alcohol was involved," she said.
"Every day in WA an ambulance is called to treat a teenager because they are so blind drunk they need medical assistance.
"These numbers tell me that we have a big problem."
Ms Stafford said hard-working paramedics and hospital staff should not have to spend so much of their time dealing with drunk patients.
She said the Government should accept the advice of its independent advisory committee, which reviewed the Liquor Control Act, by strengthening police powers on alcohol sales to minors and curbing alcohol promotion.
Australian Hotels Australia WA chief executive Bradley Woods said SJA had confirmed that the vast majority of call-outs were related to street drinking and private parties.
"This is consistent with the fact that 80 per cent of all alcohol is consumed away from licensed premises," he said.
"The data reinforces the fact that licensed premises are the safest place for hospitality."
Mr Woods said public health lobby groups were generating hysteria over alcohol consumption, which was not changing the culture of private drinking.
