AN MP has called for tougher regulations over the sale of alcohol.

MP for North Poole and Mid Dorset Annette Brooke believes that alcohol could pose more of a threat to society and people's heath than illegal drugs.

It was revealed this week that alcohol misuse costs society nationally between £17.7 and £25.1billion a year. This includes a cost of £2.7billion to the NHS.

Mrs Brooke said: "We have had a huge focus on drugs but alcohol is probably more important. We have to have a focus on both but we really need to catch up on our approach to alcohol."

She is particularly concerned that young people are drinking more and increasingly need to be hospitalised for alcohol related problems.

She said: "There is a huge problem with children consuming more and more alcohol."

An independent review is expected to say the regulations governing the alcohol industry were "not fit for purpose".

Government auditor KPMG visited nearly 600 pubs, clubs, bars and shops over a five day period in eight locations across England.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "The evidence from this series of reviews, and the hospital admissions data, clearly make this the right time to consult on a far tougher approach to the alcohol industry."

One solution could be to make currently voluntary agreements such as restrictions on happy hours mandatory. Mrs Brooke welcomed suggestions that the government ban happy hours to prevent people drinking a lot quickly. She is also concerned about the large measures sold in pubs and supported measures to print the number of units on bottles and cans of alcohol.

Jon Shipp night-time economy co-ordinator for Bournemouth said: "The trade is always open to the development of new measures.

"But it is essential that all legislation is applied across the breadth of the industry, especially targeting the significant impact made by the off-licence trade, who are yet to implement voluntary codes in the same way as the on-licence trade."