''PRE-LOADING'' on alcohol before heading out to pubs and clubs is causing alcohol-related crime, violence, hospitalisation, assault and death.

Australia's largest study into alcohol-related nightlife crime has found people are increasingly drinking before they go out to avoid high alcohol prices in venues.

People who drank between six and 10 standard drinks before going out compared with those who did not ''pre-drink'' were twice as likely to get into trouble, the researchers found.

Some had drunk more than 25 standard drinks before even reaching the venue, quadrupling their risk of harm.

Police and public health experts say the drinking culture is out of control and laws must change to stop risky drinking.