Alcohol abuse across Leicestershire costs the taxpayer almost £90m every year, it has been revealed.

The problem costs services such as the police, hospitals and social services an estimated £89.3m.

A new report exposes the bleak reality of alcohol abuse in the county with one in five adults drinking too much.

It says drink-related hospital ward admissions have doubled in five years, with the city itself ranking in the bottom 10 nationwide.

For every 100,000 people, 2,260 are admitted to hospital because of alcohol each year – the national average is 1,583.

Alcohol abuse has also had a knock-on effect on crime rates. It is now blamed for 65% of domestic attacks – 15% higher than the rest of the UK.

A big overhaul of the area's alcohol treatment services is now being planned by councils, police and health bosses to help slash the bill.

A report – put together by local council, health and police authorities – will be submitted to the Government this month as part of a new pilot project.

Leicestershire is one of 13 areas to be included in a trial of the Government's Total Place scheme, which looks at cutting down on bureaucracy, making savings, and getting better results.

The report will call on the Government to:

Allow licensing panels to consider the effect on public health when deciding whether to approve a licence for a pub or club.

Give councils more powers in dishing out penalties to those who sell booze to under-age children.

Introduce a minimum alcohol unit price of between 40-50p. Simba Kashiri is the alcohol liaison worker based at Leicester Royal Infirmary. He sees patients on wards and those admitted through accident and emergency with alcohol problems.

There are about five new patients a day – many turning out to be drink dependent.

He said: "Minimum pricing per unit would help cut consumption of cheap alcohol.

"You can buy a three-litre bottle of cider with 22 units for £3. A price of 50p a unit would put this up to nearly £11."

Mags Walsh, Leicestershire County Council's project lead for drugs and alcohol, said: "£89.3m is spent across the area to deal with alcohol misuse.

"That is made up from the cost of crime, such as extra policing, and the strain on local health services by increasing the burden on hospital staff and the cost of treating those with alcohol problems in the long term."

Other plans in the report, which do not require Government approval, include an agreement to take a stricter line on pubs and clubs which have become problematic.

Meanwhile, A&E services could get a separate unit for intoxicated patients who turn up with minor injuries.