British singer Ian Brown has slammed troubled star Amy Winehouse's partying ways, insisting she is "scared of living".

The Rehab singer suffered health problems this summer after an apparent drug overdose - and is famed for her hard-drinking ways.

But Brown believes Winehouse is hiding behind her alcohol consumption to avoid reality, and brands the star a "sucker" for choosing to behave badly.

He says: "I think (Winehouse) is an absolute sucker. The girl's got all those tattoos in the last few years - and one day she's gonna go, 'Oh no'.

"Suckers. Anyone who drinks to that condition is a sucker. They're scared of living."