ALCOHOL abuse has been with us as a problem for many generations.

As long ago as the 19th century people were dying in their thousands because they were drinking too much - a situation chronicled by Victorian writers like Charles Dickens.

And that's one of the reasons why it is alarming to hear alcohol action experts today claim they are watching people die because of lack of funding for their work.

It's true that many will always believe they need more money to tackle the social problems we have in our midst.

An estimated 1.8million people in the region drinking more than the recommended number of daily units each week and the North West has a chronic liver disease rate 40% higher than the national average. We are facing a crisis and it's getting worse.

The whole service does not even receive a fraction of the budget increase for tackling drug education and Government revenue from taxes on alcohol is apparently more than the total spent fighting the results of its abuse.

Alcohol abuse has a adverse effect on every area of working and domestic lives, destroys families and is a major cause of violence, disorder, petty crime and even death when drunks drive.

It must have a higher priority.