New figures have revealed that professionals and those from high-income households across the district are likely to be the heaviest drinkers.

On average, men in this category drink 22.9 units per week and women consume 12.5 units, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

By contrast, households described as routine and manual get through an average 11.6 units per person per week - 16.7 for men and 7.1 for women.

Department of Health figures show that 1,469 people were treated across the Bradford district for alcohol-related illnesses in 2005/6.

And the district had the highest rate of hospital admissions for alcohol-related illnesses in Yorkshire and Humber.

Bradford Council's health improvement committee has started a major investigation into the misuse of alcohol and the capacity of public services to cope with the problem.

Committee chairman Councillor Elaine Byrom said: "The scale of the problem and the capacity of public services, including the primary care trusts, Bradford Council, voluntary and community groups, is now becoming clearer.

"This is a problem that will not go away and the inquiry will investigate what is being done to improve services and reduce the number of people dependent on alcohol."

The ONS report - based on a survey of 16,500 households in Britain - uses a new method to assess alcohol consumption which takes account of the trend for stronger wine and larger wine glasses.

The main change compared with previous years is that one glass of wine counts as two units instead of one.