A hard-hitting report on the impact of alcohol on Brighton and Hove has been described by a watchdog chairman as one of the most frightening he had ever read.

Members of the Brighton and Hove health overview and scrutiny committee were told by the city's top doctor Tom Scanlon the issue needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

The number of alcohol-related admissions to hospital and deaths have risen sharply in Brighton and Hove in recent years and messages about the dangers of binge drinking are not getting through.

Dr Scanlon, director of public health for Brighton and Hove, said it was a subject that affected every area of city life, including crime, car accidents and the local economy.

He said: “Lots of people come to the city for a good time and that is important for the economy but we need to balance it with the effect on the health of the city.

“This is having a significant impact on the on the population and we need to work as a city to address it.

“We have to get our thinking caps on and try to find ways of getting the message across that you don't always need alcohol to have a good time.

“This could be through organising more events that are entertaining but where alcohol is not needed.”

The report revealed 200 deaths in the city each year were linked to alcohol abuse and the number of patients admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems had shot up by 30% since licensing laws were relaxed in 2005.

Committee chairman Garry Peltzer-Dunn said: “This is one of the most frightening reports I have ever read for a long time.

“There needs to be a far reaching investigation into this subject."

The committee has agreed to set up a panel to investigate the report's findings and will look at ask whether other scrutiny committees and organisations can be involved.