A Wirral Euro MP is calling for licensing laws to be tightened up and pub opening hours reduced as a probe shows hospital visits for alcohol poisoning have doubled in six years.

Emergency admissions due to the effects of alcohol, such as liver disease, have also risen by more than 50% in nine years to 250,000 a year in England.

Admission rates were highest in deprived areas in the North and among men aged 45-64, the Nuffield Trust report revealed.

“These are gloomy figures," said MEP Paul Nuttall.

The UKIP deputy leader continued: "At the same time fewer people are actually going to the pub, with closures running at 29 a week, and they are instead either staying in drinking cheap supermarket booze or pre-loading with it and then going out to late night bars and clubs.

‘We have a serious problems with alcohol in this country and while this has come about through a combination of factors there is no doubt in my mind that the ill-conceived 24 hours drinking scheme, introduced by Labour, has a lot to answer for.

“The British drinking culture is totally different to the continental cafe society and this experiment has proved disastrous for both individuals and society, as backed up by these Nuffield Trust figures.

“We need to go back to the traditional pub and club opening hours and make pubs competitive.

"The Government should reduce VAT on low alcohol beverages and the smoking ban needs to be urgently revised so that pubs can have property-ventilated smoking rooms."

He added: "The health of our nation is at stake with increasing alcohol-related violence and illness and our NHS is already overburdened without these avoidable problems. Urgent action needs to be taken.”

In June of this year a similar investigation by Public Health England revealed Wirral as being among the very worst in England for alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Fiona Johnstone, Wirral's director of public health, told the Globe at the time: "Our figures for alcohol-specific hospital admissions are a concern.

"People drinking to excess are causing harm to themselves, their families and communities and we are taking sustained action to tackle this issue.

"We want local people to have a healthy relationship with alcohol and to take action to think about their alcohol consumption – people should think about drinking less often and be aware of the strength of the alcohol they are drinking."

Ms Johnstone said the local authority was taking steps to limit the availability of booze.

"We are working with local alcohol retailers supporting those who are willing to stop selling cheap, high-strength lager and cider and reviewing license applications with a particular focus on those that request to sell alcohol from very early in the morning," she said.

A Government spokesman said: "People should always drink alcohol responsibly - very busy ambulance services and A&E staff can do without this extra demand.

"The Government has taken action to tackle cheap alcohol by banning the lowest priced drinks and we are already seeing fewer young people drinking on a regular basis."