WA data highlights alcohol abuse trend

Ambulance call-out figures for underage drinkers shows high levels of alcohol abuse in WA, with more calls for young females than males, St John Ambulance says.

More ambulances were called in WA last year for alcohol related issues than previous years. (AAP)

There was a record number of underage drinkers who needed urgent medical help in Western Australia last year, and most of them were females, St John Ambulance said.

Ambulance figures show there were 247 call-outs for young women aged 13 to 18, compared to 212 for young men in the same age group.

WA metropolitan ambulance general manager James Sherriff said most calls for underage drinkers were from homes and house parties.

He said parents organising underage birthday parties were often aware alcohol was there, or even supplied it, but parents of guests were not always aware their children would be drinking.

"It's not about having more regulations in bars ... the education is out there, people need to look to their left and to their right and take responsibility," he said.

Last year there were 465 call-outs for people under the age of 18 for alcohol intoxication, including two aged under 12, compared to a total of almost 400 the year before.

Mr Sherriff urged people to dial triple zero if their peers showed signs of excessive drinking such as falling asleep, becoming unconscious, nausea or vomiting, being unstable on their feet, slurring words or becoming aggressive.

"We don't judge, our patient is our focus. We just want the best outcome," he said.

"They need to be monitored ... one of our concerns is people thinking they'll sleep it through."

The total number of ambulance requests related to alcohol was also higher last year than in previous years.

There were 5063 calls, averaging 14 ambulances a day and more than 3000 people were taken to hospital.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings were the busiest, and call-outs for 2017 were on par with last year, Mr Sherriff added.

Julia Stafford from Curtin University's McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth said the continued high levels of alcohol-related harm in WA meant governments and communities should not get complacent.

"I would urge the WA government to ensure that reducing harm from alcohol remains a priority, particularly as they draft reforms to WA's liquor laws," she said.