ALCOHOLISM, obesity and smoking – the three big no nos that are sucking the financial blood out of our over-stretched National Health Service.

Today the Daily Echo reports on the Government’s plans to continue the controversial austerity measures it drove through the last Parliament.

Just a few weeks into the new term and Chancellor George Osborne has turned his sights on health budgets as he strives on to balance the country’s books.

And us living down here on the comfy south coast are not going to escape.

Almost £5 million is to be swiped from health services in Hampshire – and that is funding used for services such as quitting smoking classes, obesity clinics, drug and alcohol treatments.

Those clinics are vital to stop the drain on resources inflicted on the health services by those needing treatment for obesity and substance abuse.

While Mr Osborne continues his quest to get the country back into the black, wewhen must not neglect the treatment and advice services given to helping sufferers quit these horrible addictions.

If the cuts go through it is up to health and social welfare bosses to ensure they fight to maintain these vital services or we will continue to pay both the financial and personal price of addiction for decades to come.