Alcohol-related deaths in England have experienced a “catastrophic rise” in the last four years, prompting public health experts to call for urgent action. The Alcohol Health Alliance UK released figures showing that in 2023, over 8,200 people died due to alcohol, a 42% increase on 2019, with the North East seeing the highest death rates.
Deaths due to alcohol consumption have continued to rise, albeit at a slower rate than in previous years, since the beginning of the pandemic. The Alliance, which represents over 60 organisations, called it an “alarming trend” that puts pressure on the healthcare system and society as a whole.
The Alliance suggests that the introduction of a minimum price for each unit of alcohol, as already implemented in Scotland, could help reduce alcohol consumption and therefore deaths. Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, the chair of the Alliance, warns that without such action, preventable deaths due to alcohol will continue to rise.
Critics of minimum pricing argue that serious drinkers will find a way to continue their habit and may be forced to cut back on necessities instead. However, Scotland’s experience with the policy, where the minimum cost of a unit of alcohol has risen from 50p to 65p, has reportedly proven effective in reducing alcohol-related harm.
The UK government has vowed to prioritise public health measures in its 10-year plan for the National Health Service in England. It has also acknowledged that current alcohol death levels are unacceptable, and that addressing alcohol-related harm must become a significant public health priority in the coming years.
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