Drinking just four pints of beer a week could raise the risk of a person needing hospital treatment during their lifetime, according to a major study of almost 6000 Scottish men over the last 35 years.

Drinking just four pints of beer a week could raise the risk of a person needing hospital treatment during their lifetime, according to a major study of almost 6000 Scottish men over the last 35 years.

The research is likely to reinforce calls for cross-party political backing for minimum pricing of alcohol to discourage problem drinking after new figures this week found that one in 20 Scots - twice the number previously thought - is dying from an alcohol-related illness.

Researchers at Glasgow and Bristol universities revealed the men who drank between eight and 14 units of alcohol a week - equivalent to four pints, eight shots of spirits or eight small glasses of wine - were more likely to be admitted to hospital than those who drank fewer units or none at all.

The group was also likely to be kept in hospital for longer than people who drank less or abstained, according to the research.

The study published today in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health followed 5772 men from Glasgow, Clydebank and Grangemouth in Stirlingshire, who were all aged between 35 and 64 years old when they were recruited between 1970 and 1973.

The report found that as average alcohol intake increased the risk of being admitted to hospital and the length of stay also rose.

The report concluded that the overall effects of alcohol were "substantial" and added: "Alcohol consumption has a notable effect on health service utilisation and therefore NHS costs."

The risk rose again for men who drank between 14 and 21 units, which is the Scottish Government's recommended weekly maximum.

Statistics showing that twice as many Scots are dying from alochol-related diseases as previously thought were revealed on Tuesday. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon described the findings as "truly shocking".

The figures were based on death rates for 2003 compiled for the Scottish Health Survey, which were updated to reflect the increasing strength of alcoholic drinks. It concluded alcohol was a factor in 2882 deaths or 5% of the total, compared with the last estimate of 1525 for the year.

Broken down, it represented 55 deaths a week or eight each day. Ms Sturgeon said it highlighted how alcohol abuse was taking a "higher toll" on the nation's health than was previously thought.

The British Medical Association Scotland said the figures showed the need for MSPs of all political parties to support the SNP's legislative suggestions for a minimum unit price for alcohol. Last month, Dr Harry Burns, the chief medical officer, said that a minimum tariff for alcohol was "no-brainer". He told an alcohol summit in Edinburgh that it was one of the ways in which the government could control the amount people were drinking. "If we do that, people who in the course of the next year are going to die are going to be drawn back from the brink."

In England, the Department of Health made no mention of any plans there to introduce minimum pricing following the study. However, a spokesman said it is consulting on a draft "mandatory code" for alcohol sales that "should restrict irresponsible ways of promoting alcohol and ensure information on alcohol units and government guidelines is widely available".