Michael Johnston, accident and emergency consultant at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, said each NHS board records statistics differently so the extent of the problem in Tayside is not truly highlighted.

Admissions to the short-stay ward at Ninewells are recorded under a different code and are not included in the Scottish Executive statistics, giving the impression of an improvement, but the problem is actually getting worse, he said.

“It is a very regular occurrence, especially on a Friday and Saturday night, mostly in the 16-18 year-old category, although we do get a steady trickle aged between 11 and 14,” said Mr Johnston.

“At worst they come in unconscious and are often suffering from hypothermia or hypoglycaemia, which is when the sugar level is too low and is brought on when children drink too much alcohol.

“The most common situation is when they come in unable to look after themselves, they can’t stand up and are vomiting. Once relatives have been contacted and arrive they can be discharged.

“As far as I’m concerned, time and time again, if you go to local shops in housing schemes or villages you see lots of teenagers hanging around and they are getting alcohol, whether they are getting it themselves or getting other people to buy it for them.

“Something has to be done to stop them getting their hands on it. I think shopkeepers in particular, while I have sympathy for them, have a huge responsibility.

“We probably have about four admissions over the course of a weekend and the problem is getting worse.

“The other aspect is local policing. They openly drink out on street corners and I think an increased police presence is needed as they have the power to take drink off under-18s.

“The other problem is parents don’t know where their children are or what they are doing. Sometimes the parents can be in as bad a state as the child.

Figures from the Scottish Executive show 56 under-18s admitted to hospitals in Tayside due to severe alcohol intoxication in 2002. There were 867 admissions to hospitals in Scotland, 8.7% of all discharges. The Tayside figures fall below the national average with the 56 children accounting for 7.4% of all discharges.

Grampian recorded 81 admissions, 7.8% of all discharges, while 38 under-18’s were admitted to hospitals in Fife due to alcohol abuse, accounting for 11.1% of all discharges.

Frankie Claridge of Tayside Council on Alcohol said more still has to be done to educate youngsters about the dangers of alcohol. “It is brilliant the figure has gone down, but 56 children admitted to hospital due to alcohol is still 56 too many.”

Tayside Police drug prevention officer Constable Ewen MacDonald said they were tackling under-age drinking under Operation Beacon, which was designed to combat anti-social behaviour.

“We work in conjunction with the education department to try to make young people aware of the problems surrounding drinking and alcohol is given a major focus in schools.”