The NHS is not doing enough to stem effects of alcohol on health, the National Audit Office has warned.

It blamed poor planning and needs assessment by primary care trusts.

In a report out today, the government's spending watchdog says a quarter of PCTs have not assessed local problems properly so are unable to offer suitable services.

The health effects of alcohol misuse cost the NHS around£2.7bn a year - more than 2 per cent of NHS expenditure. But PCTs are spending just over 0.1 per cent of their annual turnover on services to tackle the problem.

National Audit Office head Tim Burr said: "Alcohol misuse constitutes a heavy and increasing burden on the NHS. If services to tackle alcohol misuse are going to make a bigger difference, primary care trusts need to understand better the scale of the problem in their local communities."

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the ultimate blame lay with ministers for sending out mixed messages. "On the one hand, they extend licensing hours, while on the other they chastise 'happy hours'."

Mr Lansley said a Conservative government would make public health a priority.

Download Reducing Alcohol Harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse

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