A quarter of British men in alcohol-fuelled fights

Almost one in four British men have been involved in alcohol-fuelled violence, according to an ICM poll.

The poll, commissioned by the Priory Group, demonstrated that millions of people across the country could be endangering their health and personal safety through binge drinking.

The poll revealed that 30 per cent of people have been unable to function effectively the next day at work or college after drinking heavily.

Over 20 per cent of people have had to take a day off work to recover from a hangover.

Six per cent of men and three per cent of women also admitted to waking up with a stranger.

Dr Mark Collins of the Priory Group said: “These are shocking revelations, reinforcing the fact that excessive or inappropriate consumption of alcohol is a massive social and public health problem”.

This poll follows figures released in July which showed that alcohol-related deaths have increased dramatically under the Labour government.

Among men, alcohol-related death rates have shot up by 43 per cent and female rates have risen by a third since 1999.

Overall, alcohol-related deaths rose by almost 40 per cent in ten years from 5,287 in 1999 to 7,341 in 2008.

Critics have blamed Labour’s 24-hour drinking laws for the increase.

The Government had hoped its all-day drinking laws would create a continental-style café culture, but the laws, which have been introduced in England, Scotland and Wales, have been widely criticised.

The Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank and file officers, has blamed 24-hour drinking for making some towns “like the Wild West”.

Conservative Party leader David Cameron has said that his party plans “serious changes” to the Licensing Act to tackle drink-related violence and crime.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has admitted that the controversial 24-hour drinking laws introduced by his party in 2005 are “not working”.