Victorians are dying from alcohol-related illnesses and injuries, according to startling new statistics.

'And alcohol abuse is also hitting our hospitals hard with almost 9,000 emergency presentations in 2004/05—a frightening 35 per cent increase over five years,' said Health Minister Bronwyn Pike.

Ms Pike was releasing the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook—a comprehensive snapshot of the negative social impacts of alcohol abuse in each Victorian suburb—at the launch of Australia's first Centre for Alcohol Policy Research.

'The centre, headed by University of Melbourne Social Policy Research in Alcohol Chair Professor Robin Room, places Victoria at the forefront of research and policy development in alcohol issues.

'The centre will play a vital role in helping Victoria tackle the serious issue of alcohol abuse in the community, helping dispel myths that alcohol is not as harmful and addictive as illegal substances and provide strategic advice on social alcohol reforms.'

The handbook, published by the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, details the number of alcohol-related deaths, assaults, domestic violence incidents and road injuries.

Ms Pike said the results in the handbook were alarming, providing all Victorians with a serious wake-up call on their alcohol consumption and its effects on the community.

'Alcohol is second only to tobacco as a drug that causes high levels of disease and death.'

Information in the handbook shows:

•          There were 2,879 alcohol-related deaths in Victoria (a rate of 1.49 per 10,000 residents) with higher rates recorded in Barwon-South Western and Gippsland regions (1.84 and 1.93 per 10,000 respectively);

•          There were 9,445 alcohol-related assaults in Victoria (9.65 per 10,000 residents) with the rate higher in all of the non-metropolitan regions;

•          There were 15,465 alcohol-related family incidents in Victoria (15.80 per 10,000 residents). The highest rate of alcohol-related family incidents was reported in Gippsland region (24.22 per 10,000 residents per year);

•          Alcohol intoxication was a major contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes in Victoria. Road accidents due to alcohol consumption most commonly occurred during the weekends between 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

•          There were 3,346 alcohol-related serious road injuries (3.42 per 10,000 residents). The lowest rate of alcohol-related serious road injury was in Barwon South Western region with a rate of 2.84 per 10,000 residents;

•          Alcohol-related hospital admissions included admissions that were typically associated with long-term heavy alcohol consumption such as stroke, hypertension, cancer and mental and behavioural disorders. There were 13,234 admissions in Victoria (a rate of 26.92 per 10,000).

•          The Victorian Alcohol Statistics Handbook—A Summary of Alcohol-Related harm for all Victorian Local Government Areas 2005 can be downloaded from www.turningpoint.org.au.