Some 1,600 service personal in the British armed forces have suffered from alcohol abuse, the UK newspaper The Independent said.

Figures obtained by the UK newspaper from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show that army personnel have suffered from alcohol abuse-related diseases over the past five years, with 1,300 receiving treatment as a result.

More than 4,000 service personnel have been disciplined for their drinking since 2009, with some drinking on the job. 

According to the UK's Armed Forces website, about 99,730 servicemen make up the British army.