A top Magistrate has warned of the dangers of alcohol after a middle aged man collapsed and died following a booze binge.

Speaking at the inquest into the death of Frederick Charles Lodge, 52, of Hamilton, yesterday Magistrate Arthur Hodgson said: "This is the second inquest I have sat on in recent months in which alcohol has played a significant role, reminding us all of the scourge alcohol is in this Country.'' The inquest heard how Mr. Lodge, who was staying at the Canadian Hotel, fell to the floor while walking in Court Street on the evening of December 15, 1996.

He was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital suffering from a head injury but died a few hours later.

A blood test showed he had earlier drunk the equivalent of half a bottle of whisky.

Several witnesses claim they saw Mr. Lodge fall, including Daniel Hunt, of Middle Road, Warwick, who went to his assistance.

"It looked like he was having a seizure,'' Mr. Hunt said.

"The first time he hit his head it was hard and so I put my foot under his head and told him to keep still.'' Returning a verdict of accidental death Mr. Hodgson said: "Mr. Lodge came to his death by falling backward in the street thereby sustaining injuries to his head and face.'' "There is no evidence of foul play or anyone else being involved and I therefore find that his death was accidental.'' "But the evidence suggests that the large amount of alcohol could have been a cause of the accident.''