Excessive drinking in young is partly developmental rebellion. My Mom who was a teen in the 1940's said some some boys in her high school were drinkers and trouble makers. Fast forward to now and compound rebellion with immaturity, disposable income and cheap drinks and you have a recipe for weekend A&E overflow. In order to save money, many people get good and drunk on cheap supermarket drink before going out. It is not about getting a little light headed and loose anymore. It is about getting shitfaced which is some kind of badge of honour they must attain.

What is heartbreaking is these people are priming themselves for terrible life long health problems. Of course they should not be charged for A&E costs. But they should be required after second alcohol related A&E visit within a specified time to enter an education programme where they will meet face to face, victims of alcohol abuse. In fact it would not hurt to require secondary school students to learn the effects of binge drinking with hospital visits to see the effects of alcohol poisoning, diabetes, kidney and liver disease.