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Alcohol Deaths Rise to Highest Level Since Records Began in England and Wales

by Michael Curzon
6 May 2021 3:31 PM

Alcohol killed more people in England and Wales last year than in any other year since records began, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as many Brits turned to drink to cope with the isolation – and other forms of suffering – caused by the lockdowns. MailOnline has the story.

An ONS report published today revealed there were 7,423 fatalities linked to drinking last year, which was a fifth more than in 2019 and the highest number since records began in 2001.

People living in the poorest parts of the countries were four times more likely to have died from alcohol abuse compared to those in the wealthiest areas.

Alcohol-related deaths have been rising for decades. But they rose quickest from March 2020 onwards, after the first national lockdown came into force, and got progressively worse as the year went on.  

Most deaths were related to long-term drinking problems and dependency – with alcoholic liver disease making up 80% of cases. 

But experts told MailOnline that a year of social restrictions likely exacerbated Britain’s drinking problem. Dozens of surveys found people drank more than usual during lockdowns to cope with isolation, boredom and anxiety about the pandemic.

One in 10 of the alcohol-related deaths were from mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol misuse and 6% were from accidental alcohol poisoning…

Professor Paul Hunter, an Epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, previously told MailOnline it was possible some of the increase was caused by excessive drinking during lockdown speeding up the deaths. 

“If people with liver disease start drinking again, especially binge drinking, that would certainly be very bad for their liver and could lead to liver failure and subsequent death,” he added. 

He added the spike in liver disease deaths could be down to patients struggling to access healthcare. Waiting lists have soared to record levels as a result of the NHS focusing on Covid patients. 

The number of people dying because of alcohol got worse as lockdowns progressed through 2020.

Compared to 2019, there were just 8% more fatalities by March last year, compared to 30% more between October and December.

But between 2019 and 2020 the rise was 19.6%. 

The spike highlights the “devastating impact” of the pandemic on problem drinking, according to the Portman Group – a regulator for alcohol labelling, packaging and promotions.

The increase in people dying from drink may partly explain last year’s drop in registered suicides – along with delays to coroner inquests – since they would be recorded as unintended injury deaths rather than as suicides.

The MailOnline report is worth reading in full.

Tags: alcohol misuseMental HealthONS

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43 Comments
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iane
iane
4 years ago

Well, I have definitely been drinking a bit more to cope with all the anxiety – about the behaviour of politicians, both here and abroad. I used to stick to the current (ridiculously low, admittedly) guideline of 14 units a week: now in the region of 20 or so. Doubtless, reversing such a shift will be as hard as reversing the theft of our freedoms!

24
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  iane

As posted yesterday, as a young man I would drink 2-3 pints each evening while relaxing and socialising with my friends (before the days of mobile phones and internet) and a bit more at the weekend.

This equated to about 50 units per week which in todays terms made me a double plus problem drinker. Oh do fuck off, it was completely normal. We all did the same same and were perfectly fit to drive to work in the morning and, so far as I know, we are all here to tell the tale now.

24
0
iane
iane
4 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Yes of course – I was merely agreeing that the trends were there. I certainly don’t see my alcohol consumption as a problem!

3
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  iane

The ‘FU’ was not directed at you iane, rather the pontificating types.

Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
4
0
bringbacksanity
bringbacksanity
4 years ago
Reply to  iane

Each successive CMO drops the units down. There is not as much evidence as one might hope that the 14 unit measurement has any value. It is not that long ago the unit limit was not around 50. Each CMO comes in, makes a splash off cutting the units down. Awful really, but that seems to be the case.

6
0
eastender53
eastender53
4 years ago
Reply to  bringbacksanity

It depends on the aim. Clearly zero alcohol will reduce the risks of certain ailments. However holistically there may be benefits in some consumption. I’m late 60’s and have never been close to the 14 unit limit, nearer the 50 one. Sunday brunches in Asia and Friday brunches in the Middle East probably did that in a day. We all still held responsible jobs, raised families and never got pinged for DUI. What we have now is a puritanical Nanny state wanting to control every aspect of the ‘peasants’ lives. (Whilst sipping their 20 year old malt!)

10
0
Attaboy
Attaboy
4 years ago
Reply to  iane

politicians only behave a certain way when people dont do anything about it. We have allowed the behaviour and we continue to allow it

5
0
eastender53
eastender53
4 years ago
Reply to  iane

A week?

1
0
BJs Brain is Missing
BJs Brain is Missing
4 years ago

Didn’t this also happen in the former totalitarian communist states? Nice legacy Johnson and Hancock.

For goodness sake people, we have to put an end to all of this.

Last edited 4 years ago by BJs Brain is Missing
41
0
TheyLiveAndWeLockdown
TheyLiveAndWeLockdown
4 years ago
Reply to  BJs Brain is Missing

It is like 1984 but with a Health-Fascist 5 minute hate for Victory Gin and fags.

18
-1
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  BJs Brain is Missing

Russian men do still drink vast amounts of vodka because the state needs the tax
which is one reason why their population is declining but the oh-so-liberal Scandinavians are not far behind.

Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
5
0
Jaguarpig
Jaguarpig
4 years ago
Reply to  BJs Brain is Missing

Can’t beat a couple of litres of gut rot vodka a day.

1
0
awildgoose
awildgoose
4 years ago

Utterly predictable.

Why hasn’t Imperial College modeled this?

24
0
Annie
Annie
4 years ago
Reply to  awildgoose

They’re teetotalitarian.

55
-1
CGL
CGL
4 years ago
Reply to  Annie

Oh the cleverness of you!

5
-1
CGL
CGL
4 years ago
Reply to  CGL

A downtick? Really?
Think I’ll stick with the other place then

Last edited 4 years ago by CGL
1
0
bringbacksanity
bringbacksanity
4 years ago
Reply to  Annie

I’d bet every single one of them has (not) inhaled cannabis at some point. And of course their liberal values are such that we should legalise that, so to remove at a stoke their own sordid double standards. Michael “likes a sniff” Gove letting us all know how to go about our lives is a similar tale of hypocrisy.

7
0
fon
fon
4 years ago
Reply to  bringbacksanity

we should legalise that,
true.

1
-4
Anonymous
Anonymous
4 years ago
Reply to  Annie

Very good.

1
0
Teebs
Teebs
4 years ago
Reply to  Annie

Absolutely not! I was at Imperial and can refute this scurrilous libel! However, I can also confirm I never saw Neil Ferguson down at the Union Bar. However, if I ever do run into him on my occasional visits …

4
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago

Alcohol related liver disease and others do not occur overnight so short of more people on furlough getting pissed up and walking in front of a bus or falling in the river this report is total bollocks.

What does 7,423 Alcohol Related Deaths even mean ? Someone got smashed in a disco and stabbed you ? An anxious father to be got a call to attend Maternity but crashed into a tree because he’d had a couple to calm his nerves?

It may well be the case that alcohol related deaths were the highest since records began but only because it is part of a decades long trend, sod all to do with covid/lockdown (in the short term).

Clearly another attack on alcohol consumption by the Portman Group with the same axe to grind as Alcohol Concern with a view to imposing Prohibition on the back of Covid.

(Posted after my usual late afternoon couple of snifters).

29
0
Occamsrazor
Occamsrazor
4 years ago

Well there’s a surprise. Take away people’s freedoms to do the smallest things, trash the economy, take away self-reliance, create and strengthen divisions in society, discourage healthy activities, turn most of the population absolutely mad. Voila.

41
0
I am Spartacas
I am Spartacas
4 years ago

Just the tip of the iceberg

icebergcovid.jpg
31
0
WeAllFallDown
WeAllFallDown
4 years ago

We’re pretty much teetotal, but I can vouch for the clinks coming from the bins in my road. I can well believe everyone is drinking more. But it’s the volume of take-away fast food that’s alarming me, now. Huge queues every evening outside fast food places, and local take-aways. I imagine non-alcoholic fatty liver disease will be worse.

17
0
Stevey
Stevey
4 years ago
Reply to  WeAllFallDown

My wife and I are certainly drinking more. Pretty much two bottles every night since lockdowns began.

6
0
Annie
Annie
4 years ago

Government manslaughter.

10
0
JayBee
JayBee
4 years ago
Reply to  Annie

If it saves one (Covid) life…..

10
0
Paul B
Paul B
4 years ago

That reminds me I’ve got 4 boxes of bottles to cycle to the bottle bank 🙁

8
0
Teebs
Teebs
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul B

Have you noticed that bottles are lighter when you carry them to the recycling, than when you carried them home from the market, or is that just me?

7
-1
NonCompliant
NonCompliant
4 years ago

Only one kind of death counts, one within 28 days of a dodgy PCR test!

12
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

I was just reading this government document

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937596/vaccines-task-force-falk-group-21-oct-redacted.pdf

JCVI expert comments

“No long term safety data on novel formats (adeno, mRNA)”

“May consider vaccinating younger people to stop asymptomatic transmission spread once safety established”

Are they ignoring the need to get long term safety data? Or do they consider 6 months long term?

9
0
iane
iane
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Well, the last 13 and a half months have felt like an eternity!

5
0
Teebs
Teebs
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

You probably need a drink after reading that …

3
-1
bringbacksanity
bringbacksanity
4 years ago

Really sad, but of course the sledgehammer responses to this nut will be yet more messages from Chris Whitty on my beer bottle and obviously social credits only permitting two beers per QR entry to a licensed premises. Sadly, I am not joking – that is likely the only reason for App for entry to a pub. Control how much alcohol you can buy as a pleb.

9
0
I am Spartacas
I am Spartacas
4 years ago

BREAKING: NHS site leaks Covid vaccine statuses.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/06/nhs-covid-jab-booking-site-leaks-peoples-vaccine-status

5
0
bringbacksanity
bringbacksanity
4 years ago
Reply to  I am Spartacas

But but but….we can give them all our data always because it keeps us safe init, #QRforfreedom.

6
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  I am Spartacas

During a recent unplanned overnight in hospital different people would ask for my NHS number which I did not have to hand but no matter, my name and date of birth sufficed.
Basic personal details as the article states.

Surprised to see the Guardian quoting Big Brother Watch at length.

Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
0
0
James Kreis
James Kreis
4 years ago

Its not just alcohol. The toxic whiff of cannabis has been much more prevalent around the small seaside town where I live.

9
0
I am Spartacas
I am Spartacas
4 years ago

It will be proven that lockdowns killed more people than the virus.

Screenshot_2021-05-06 Politics For All on Twitter.png
9
0
Teebs
Teebs
4 years ago

Everybody talking about the evil influence of Big Pharma!
But, has anybody investigated the conspiracy of Big Booze?!

This must all be their dastardly plan to get us all drinking more at home instead of meeting up in bars and cafes and getting to know people!

Hold on! What about dating sites?! Their business must be through the roof!

They are all part of it!

Ok, glass empty, I need to go open a second bottle now … will be thinking clearer after that for sure!

5
0
Teebs
Teebs
4 years ago
Reply to  Teebs

Second bottle makes it clear: this is all part of the secret plan to drive UP the cost of liver transplants! They are all in on it I tell you!!!!

4
0
donald
donald
4 years ago

MISUSE OF THE WORD ‘KILL.’ Alcohol doesn’t ‘kill’ anyone – nor does Covid 19, a train, or a knife. People can die of alcohol, die of Covid 19, or die in a train crash. People can be killed by another person with a knife.

0
0
Crystal Decanter
Crystal Decanter
4 years ago

By design
This is a multi pronged attack on the plebians

0
0

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