Sharp rise in alcohol deaths in England an ‘acute crisis’ – the 9 signs you need to cut down drinking 

A SURGE in deaths blamed on booze is an “acute crisis”; requiring urgent action, experts warn.

linked solely to increased by a fifth in in 2020, rising by a further 13.5 per cent between 2020 and 2022.

Around 3,911 more people died because of booze in that two-year period than would have been the case if pre- trends had continued, scientists at University College London and the University of Sheffield estimate.

Men, people from deprived areas and those aged 50 to 69 were most affected.

The main cause was a steep rise in triggered by drinking too much. Deaths from acute also increased.

Lead author Dr Melissa Oldham, of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said: “The sharp increase in alcohol deaths during the pandemic was no flash in the pan. The higher rate has persisted and is getting worse each year.

“It is an acute crisis, and urgent action is needed to prevent further avoidable deaths.

“This includes substantial investment in health services to better detect and treat liver disease as well as policies to reduce alcohol consumption in the population as a whole, such as minimum unit pricing and advertising restrictions.”;

Senior author Professor Colin Angus, of the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health, added: “The increase in alcohol deaths is entrenching existing health inequalities.

“Men, just as before the pandemic, are twice as likely to die because of alcohol compared to women, with almost three times as many additional alcohol-specific deaths in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.”;

This could be partly explained by more frequent , , sedentary lifestyles and “psychological distress”; from , scientists said.

The study, published in The Lancet, analysed Office for National Statistics figures from 2018 to 2022.

The latest data shows continuing to rise in England, up to 8,276.

Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: “It’s shocking to see that almost 4,000 more people died in England from alcohol than was expected since the pandemic, with the number continuing to rise.

“We’ve known for years now that changing drinking habits during lockdowns increased levels of alcohol harm.

“This study underlines the impact that had on worsening health inequalities across England.

“The government has made tackling inequalities one of its health priorities.

“There is no way of doing that without introducing a comprehensive alcohol strategy that tackles cheap, excessively available, and aggressively marketed alcohol.”;

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, added: “Five years on from the start of the pandemic, we are still seeing the devastating consequences of increased alcohol consumption.

“Drinking trends have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and the latest data confirms that alcohol-specific deaths remain at record highs – hitting those who were already at greatest risk before the pandemic the hardest.

“Alarmingly, the burden of alcohol harm continues to fall disproportionately on the most deprived communities, and it is deepening existing health inequalities.

“The government must act urgently to introduce evidence-based policies, such as minimum unit pricing, to reduce alcohol harm and save lives.”;

ARE YOU AT RISK?

More than 600,000 people in the UK are .

According to Drinkaware, the include:

• Often feeling the need to have a drink
• Getting into trouble because of drinking
• Other people warning about how much you/they are drinking
• Thinking your/their drinking is causing problems

But even if you're not addicted to booze, you may still need to cut down to avoid problems, such as , and .

The Priory Group says these behavioural changes might be considered warning :

1. People close to you have expressed concerns
2. You self-medicate using alcohol
3. You’ve become secretive about your drinking
4. Your work and home life is being affected
5. You’ve tried to cut down but couldn’t
6. You regularly drink heavily alone
7. Everything you do seems to revolve around drinking
8. Screening tools suggest you’ve got a drinking problem
9. You’re experiencing the symptoms of alcohol addiction – e.g. regular headaches, disrupted sleep, anxiety, irritability

If you’re worried, speak to your GP or contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 or online for free, confidential advice.

Remember: there is no safe drinking level. But if you consume under – equivalent to six pints of beer – this is considered low-risk drinking.