A SHOCKING 30 people died in Bolton last year from alcohol related diseases -- with a further 700 treated in the town's hospital.

The latest figures also reveal that eight out of 10 patients arriving at the Royal Bolton Hospital's Accident and Emergency unit on a Friday and Saturday night have consumed enough alcohol to be above the legal drink drive limit. And almost one third are treated as a direct result of alcohol abuse.

The massive drain on the town's hospital was revealed by a leading Bolton consultant. It is estimated that alcoholics are costing the cash-strapped Bolton Hospital NHS Trust an estimated £1 million a year.

And Dr George Lipscomb, consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital warned today: "This is just the tip of the iceberg."

Dr Lipscomb said that doctors in Bolton are now treating young women in their 20s and 30s who are dying from liver disease. Five years ago it was virtually unheard of in Bolton to have women as young as 20 dying from alcohol abuse.

Dr Lipscomb puts the blame on the alcohol industry and a lack of legislation for the rise in teenage drinkers and women consuming alcopops.

The consultant added there are 1,500 people on the town's hospital records diagnosed with alcohol related disease. In addition, a further 21 per cent of patients admitted into the hospital's psychiatric wards are there because of alcohol.

The town's shameful record is among the worst in the region. Dr Lipscomb said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more people in Bolton who do not even realise they have a problem."

The average length of stay in hospital for people with alcohol related illnesses is 18 days -- resulting in a cost to the Bolton NHS Trust of tens of thousands of pounds per patient.

Dr Lipscomb said that some of those needing treatment include teenagers with alcohol poisoning.

A specialist team was set up in Bolton in 1998 to tackle the town's high level of alcohol abuse.

At the time it was praised by the Government's Chief medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.

Dr Lipscomb said more resources were needed to tackle the problem, adding that the spiralling problems of women suffering from alcohol abuse was particularly worrying.

He said: "Women are more susceptible to the effects of drinking than men. Genetically, they cannot cope as well. It is concerning that our patients are getting younger and younger.

"Five to 10 women a year are dying from liver failure. This was unheard of in the past."

Dr Lipscomb said a change in culture was needed to stop Bolton's rising drink death toll.

He advises that the safe drink limit is three units, three times a week for women, and four units, three times a week for men.

Any more than this and people are at risk from developing a range of alcohol-related diseases which can kill.

Dr Lipscomb blamed the drinks industry and a lack of legislation for the rise in teenage drinkers and women drinking alcopops.

He added: "There needs to be change starting from the top, in Government, to bring in legislation. If alcohol was a new happy drug put on the market today it would not get a licence."