THE borough's drinkers may be losing months off their lives but are still below the national average, figures reveal.

Men in Bromley are losing more than seven months from their lives due to the effects of alcohol, compared with a national average of 10 months.

The statistics place Bromley fifth out of 32 boroughs, making it one of the top 10 "healthiest" London boroughs in terms of male alcohol consumption.

Bromley women are losing nearly four months due to conditions such as chronic liver disease, compared with a national average of five months.

The figures for women put the borough in eighth place.

In Islington, women are losing almost seven months while in the City of London the figure is less than one month.

Compiled by the North West Public Health Observatory, together with Liverpool John Moores University, the figures reveal regional variations in the effects of alcohol consumption.

Out of 100,000 male hospital admissions in the borough last year, more than 700 were alcohol related.

Although this is a more than 21 per cent increase on the previous year's figures, it still puts Bromley below the national average of 826.

Admissions for females averaged at around 380 per 100,000 - an increase of almost 14 per cent.

A spokesman for Bromley Primary Care Trust, which funds alcohol-related services in the borough, said: "The trust welcomes the news Bromley is not as greatly affected by dependent alcohol consumption as most other areas.

"However, we recognise alcohol abuse does affect many individuals and the community. We are committed to playing our part in tackling alcohol misuse.

"The trust, as part of the Drug Action Team partnership, is investing more than half a million pounds in alcohol treatment."

Research also shows Bromley has one of the lowest rates of alcohol-related sexual offences in London, at 0.13 in every 1,000 crimes - equivalent to 38 crimes in the 12 months to April this year.

The borough also saw 3,170 recorded crimes relating to alcohol in the same year.

Ranking it in ninth place when compared with the other London boroughs, the figures show around 11 in every 1,000 crimes are drink related.