According to Southern Health data, Monash Medical Centre's Clayton hospital treated 744 patients with an alcohol-related illness in 2008-09, an 11per cent rise from 2007-08.

Of these patients, 323 were intoxicated when arriving at the hospital.

The figures are comparable to findings of a National Drug Research Institute report that showed the rate of alcohol-related hospitalisations in Victoria increased by 77per cent between 1995-96 and 2004-05.

At the neighbouring Dandenong Hospital, there were 758 patients with an alcohol-related condition in 2008-09 - a 22per cent rise from 2006-07. Nearly half of the patients treated last year (328) presented drunk.

A Southern Health spokeswoman said the alcohol-related hospitalisations related to patients whose alcohol consumption caused a problem or exacerbated a condition they already had.

They include seizure patients who require extra nursing care for alcoholic dementia or severe alcohol abuse. Other patients may have had mental or behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol.

The National Drug Research Institute and the Alcohol Policy Coalition has blamed the statewide surge on the burgeoning number of liquor outlets.

Dandenong Casey General Practice Association chairman Nick Demediuk, who agreed the availability of alcohol was a factor, said there was a worsening problem-drinking culture in young people. "There's been a big change in the youth cultures of Gen X and Gen Y. They've got a different idea of how to have a good time."

He said public health messages, such as those warning parents about drinking in front of their children, could not overpower the links between alcohol and sport.

"The sponsorships of sporting teams, particularly our national cricket team, should be going to anti-smoking or anti-drinking messages."

Southern Health addiction physician Matthew Frei said better recording of alcohol-related problems by clinicians could be a factor.