Female police officers are being sexually assaulted as a result of excessive drinking, MPs have warned, as a new report lays bare the extent of the UK's "enormous" problem with alcohol.
Emergency services staff are regularly abused in drink-fuelled incidents, a parliamentary committee on alcohol harm has warned, as it emerged some staff are "felt up several times" in the course of one shift.
MPs heard evidence from a hospital consultant who was kicked in the face and another who warned A&E staff do not have time to help patients properly because they are forced to deal with so many drunks.
In one area, 86 per cent of police officers surveyed had been assaulted by people who had been drinking.
Another statement highlighted the extent of sexual assaults on emergency service staff. It said: "I can take my team through a licensed premise, and by the time I take them out the other end, they will have been felt up several times."
The MPs are calling for a minimum price for drinks and a lower drink-drive limit to cut crime and violence.
Conservative MP Fiona Bruce, chair of the group, said: "Alcohol-fuelled behaviour resulting in criminality, fires or accidents is adding intolerable - yet often unnecessary - pressure on vital resources, and to the work of our emergency services personnel.
"It should be wholly unacceptable to hear of an A&E consultant being kicked in the face, medical staff having TVs thrown at them, or female police officers being sexually assaulted.
"And it's not just emergency staff who suffer; as this report describes, many other people are impacted too, from taxpayers who foot the bill, to patients who can't be seen promptly, or worse, those innocent people killed in avoidable drunk driving accidents."
The report, which took evidence from police officers, fire crews and paramedics, found that scarce resources are too often taken up by people who have had too much to drink. Drink-fuelled crime is estimated to cost the economy £11 billion a year.
Evidence submitted by police officers also highlighted the issue of sexual assault. One statement said: "I can take my team through a licensed premise, and by the time I take them out the other end, they will have been felt up several times."
Figures released earlier this year showed the number of hotspots which are "saturated" with drinking venues has reached a new high.
There were 215 "cumulative impact areas" in England and Wales at the end of March - the highest level since current records started in 2007/8.
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