DENTISTS are blaming sugary alcopop drinks for a generation of East Lancashire twenty-something drinkers with bad teeth.

Experts said the drinks and the large amounts that that people drank had added to the chronic levels of tooth decay in the area since appearing on the market about 10 years ago.

And they urged people to take them through a straw, to by-pass the teeth, or to opt for beer or spirits mixed with diet-branded soft drinks.

Today a spokeswoman for Bacardi-Martini, which makes some of the brands, said there was more sugar in other food and drink products but that it had recently launched a half sugar range of Bacardi Breezers.

Dina Parmar, a dentist at Ewood Dental Practice, said: "When you start talking to teenagers about what they drink when they go out, more than anything they will say alcopops. You tell them about the sugar and acidic content but they are oblivious to it.

"I had someone in the other day and I asked what he drank and he said alcopops and I said do you realise that is probably why you are getting holes in your teeth?'"

Jill Mitchell, who represents dentists on Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust, said: "The main danger is that people don't realise how much sugar is in these drinks. It is a much higher concentration of sugar in comparison to wine, for example, and is very bad for their teeth.

"Also, I don't think they realise the amount of alcohol they are consuming and if they are sick then that is even more destructive because of the acid contained in the vomit.

"The combination is absolutely awful. If they did started drinking alcopops at 20, by the time they were 30 their teeth would be severely compromised. I would urge people to drink them through a straw.

"It is certainly not clever to drink water all week and then alcopops over the weekend. "

In the most severe cases the enamel which protects the teeth can be eroded said Mrs Mitchell, who is a dentist at T.J Holt & Associates in Preston New Rd, Blackburn.

She said: "You can be gorgeous but when you smile people will go urgh!'"

John Bate, who has a practice in Lindsay Park, Burnley said alcopops were a "big problem" and he saw young people who were drinking them "several times a week".

He said: "I have seen some young people since they were children and they have very good teeth but they get their independence at 16, 17 and they go out on a Saturday night and are more attracted to sweet alcoholic drinks than a pint of lager or a gin and tonic.

"Some will go away to university with perfect teeth and need several teeth fillings when they come back because they have been drinking these sugary alcoholic drinks.

"Brushing your teeth makes no difference, even if you did it 100 times a day."

Toni Ashworth, manager of the oral health promotions department, which represents the three PCTs in East Lancashire, said: "We would encourage people not to drink too many alcopops because of the high levels of sugar in them."

A spokeswoman for Bacardi-Martini said: "Whilst there is some sugar in alcoholic drinks there is much more sugar in other consumables.

"However in order to offer our consumers choice we launched the Bacardi Breezer half sugar range last year which contains less sugar and gives our consumers who are more conscious with regards to lifestyle more options."