Alcohol

Introduction

Evidence suggests that alcohol consumption across the UK has increased sharply in recent years:

  • Young women's drinking has increased by 66%, on average, since 1992. Young men's drinking has increased 25% in the same period.

  • The overall proportions of men and women drinking very heavily (50 and 35+ units respectively) have remained stable. However, the numbers of 16-24 year olds drinking at levels consistent with hazardous drinking is increasing significantly. In 2000, 9% of all 16-24 year old women drank heavily (nearly triple the figure in 1988). For 16-24 year old men, there was still an increase (to 14%), but was a more modest rise of 30%.

The UK has one of the highest proportions of binge drinking, particularly amongst young people, and one of the worst problems with underage drinking. Evidence from 3 major reviews for the effect of alcohol suggests that the number of deaths attributable to alcohol is 43-54% of unspecified liver disease.

Highlight figures

  • 63% of deaths from cirrhosis & liver disease in England & Wales between 1996 and 2000 were in men.

  • Deaths from liver disease and cirrhosis have increased by 31% in both men and women in the five years between 1996 and 2000.

  • Health Survey for England 2000 indicates that the number of people drinking over their safe recommended weekly limits is over 45% of all adults. Sample sizes are small, however, results suggest that in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber and West Midlands regions, more males drink on average over 21 units (i.e. unsafe limits) than for England as a whole.

  • 5,614 individuals received specialist Alcohol Treatment from services in the North East of England during April-September 2008.