Premier League players should be allowed to drink alcohol: Gazza

London, May 14 (ANI): Ex-England football star Paul Gascoigne reckons Premier League players should be allowed alcohol, because it is good for them.

The ex-Newcastle and Spurs legend says footballers are under "too much pressure" and their lives should be about more than "just football".

Gazza, 41, spoke out after helping judge the Miss Great Britain Final 2009 at the Café De Paris, London.

His advice came days after Tottenham and England ace Ledley King was arrested following a night on the tiles.

King, 28, was nabbed outside the Punk nightclub in Soho, central London, at the weekend on suspicion of assaulting a bouncer.

His arrest prompted Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, 62, to call for an alcohol ban at his club.

But Gazza slammed the move, saying: "I haven't got a problem with players going out and getting drunk.

The Daily Star quoted Gazza as saying: "What does a guy have to do - play football all his life and not have a life?"

But health expert Dr Julian Spinks was less than happy with Gazza.

He said: "It is very sad that Paul hasn't reached the stage that he can understand the effects of alcohol on the body and the risk that it could be having on his fellow footballers." (ANI)