The number of people drinking themselves to death by their mid-50s has tripled over the last seven years, and Asian men appear to be most at risk of fatal liver disease caused by alcohol abuse.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that the rate of increase in the number of people dying from alcoholic liver disease was similar for white men, white women and Asian men - but Asian men were dying younger and about four times more often.

Dr Neil Fisher - the consultant physician and gastroenterologist who led the research team of four scientists - said the increase was unprecedented. He recorded 450 deaths in a community of just under 850,000 people over seven years: most shocking, he said, because it is an entirely preventable disease.

The average age of death from alcohol-related liver disease among Asian males was 47. White women and men died at an average of 56 years old.

The research team found the number of people whose fatal liver disease was caused by excess alcohol has increased threefold, from 2.8 cases per 100,000 in 1993 to eight cases per 100,000 in 2000.

Dr Fisher said the amount of drinking that brings on liver disease varied greatly, but that those staying within the government guideline of 21 units per week for men and 14 for women were probably safe.

"I've seen liver disease develop in men in their mid-30s who reportedly don't drink more than 50 units a week," Dr Fisher said. "Generally speaking, though, for males they need to be drinking about 70 units a week, and for females about 50 per week."

He said the public should be made aware of this trend and to be cautious about intake. He also wanted to see health services targeting more resources at hazardous drinkers.

Dr Fisher and his colleagues looked at the cause of deaths of people living in three communities in the West Midlands - a total population of 837,000 of which 8.4% were of south Asian origin. The population is representative of the national population, they said.

They found that the increase in alcoholic liver disease deaths had occurred although there has been no notable increase in the total national alcohol consumption or in the number of people drinking more heavily.

Dr Fisher was unsure what had caused the overall increase in deaths or the specific four fold increase in Asian males.

"There could be a cultural effect. Asians who do drink tend to drink spirits as opposed to beer or wine, and spirits are more harmful. There's also a possible genetic predisposition," he said.

Further research is needed to understand why more people are dying of alcohol related liver disease, Dr Fisher said, including looking at how diet may effect a person's chances of surviving.