Brighton and Hove has one of the highest alcohol-related death rates among men in the country.

The city's rate of 33 per 100,000 of the population is second only to Blackpool which stands at 43.9.

It is more than double the national average for England and Wales of 14.7 The figures, compiled between 2001 and 2003, show Eastbourne is also above average at 23.6, along with Hastings (21.2), Worthing, (20.1) and Crawley (17).

Other areas have performed better with Arun, Mid Sussex, Lewes, Rother, Adur, Wealden, Horsham and Chichester all well below average.

Brighton and Hove already has the dubious title of drugs death capital of the UK although it has taken extensive steps to tackle the problem.

The Office of National Statistics found drink-related deaths had spiralled in England and Wales over 20 years but there are large variations across the country.

The figures cover deaths only where alcohol is the most direct cause, such as liver and heart disease. It excludes road accidents.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT) said: "We spend just under half a million pounds on alcohol treatment in Brighton and Hove, including detox beds, residential rehab, psychiatry and senior nursing support, and specialist social workers."

From April 2005 the PCT is planning to substantially increase investment including:

Extra staff and better training in the A&E department of the Royal Sussex County Hospital
Specialist training for GPs
A series of campaigns to raise awareness of the issue and services available.

The figures will reignite opposition to the Government's moves to liberalise the drinking laws and allow 24-hour licensing.

Opposition MPs and Sussex Police Authority have warned it could increase drink-fuelled crime and disorder.

Among men and women, Brighton and Hove had the highest rate of alcohol-related death in the county, with 21.2 per 100,000. It was followed by Hastings with 16.3, Worthing with 14.5 and Eastbourne with 14.3.

Crawley recorded 12.4 deaths per 100,000 but the rate across the rest of the county was single-figure. The national average for both sexes was 10.9 per 100,000.