Newly released figures show that 840 incapacity benefit claimants in Leeds say their main reason for being on the benefit is alcoholism.

Similarly, 230 people in Kirklees claim the benefit because they have a drink addiction and 180 in Wakefield.

The rate of IB claimants in Leeds with a serious drink abuse problem – 182 per 100,000 workers – is the second highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The highest rate in the region is in Scarborough, where 196 people per 100,000 workers are off work and claiming benefits because of alcoholism.

Ministers this week unveiled a radical measure of welfare reforms designed to "transform lives" and help achieve the government's ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate.

People addicted to heroin or crack cocaine will have to declare their problem and agree to treatment if they are to continue receiving benefits. The same will not apply to alcoholics or people addicted to cannabis or cocaine.

However, Whitehall sources believe the idea could be on the agenda in the future and is a logical next step.

More than 500,000 people under 35 are now claiming IB which pays out up to £84.50 a week.

The total cost to the Treasury of the benefit is about £12bn a year.About 40 per cent of recipients are claiming for mental health problems, some 250,000 because of stress-related illnesses, while others cite obesity or eating disorders.

Across England, 38,450 men and women have an alcohol abuse problem so serious they are registered unfit to work and qualify for benefits as a result.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will replaced Incapacity Benefit between 2010 and 2013 and claimants will have to undertake rigorous medical assessments to determine what types of work they can undertake.

Ministers have also told the drinks industry this week to act more responsibly or face new laws governing alcohol sales.

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern said: "The combination of a mandatory code of standards among the licensed trade and improved resources to support problem drinkers, will undoubtedly help to bring down the burden that alcohol misuse places on public services."