Health campaigners have called for a minimum price per unit to be introduced in England


Health campaigners urge England to follow Scotland and adopt a minimum alcohol price as study reveals heaviest drinkers bought MORE booze during lockdowns

  • Britain’s heaviest drinkers bought 17-times more alcohol in 2020 than lightest
  • Those in Scotland and Wales — which have minimum unit pricing — bought least
  • Health campaigners say study finding calls for same approach in England 

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Health campaigners have today repeated their calls for England to adopt minimum alcohol pricing.

It comes after a new study found the biggest drinkers bought more alcohol during lockdowns, despite pubs being closed. 

Britain’s heaviest drinkers — defined as those living in the top 20 per cent of alcohol-buying households — bought 17-times more alcohol from shops than the bottom 20 per cent during the first lockdown.   

Increases in alcohol purchases were not as sharp in Scotland and Wales, according to the study of 80,000 households. 

Experts said the findings show minimum unit pricing for alcohol — currently fixed at 50p in Scotland and Wales — ‘can make a difference to purchases’.

Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: ‘The pandemic highlights the urgent need for the Government to take action to protect the most vulnerable drinkers and disadvantaged communities from alcohol harm.

‘This study suggests that minimum unit pricing can make a difference to purchases.’ 

And Professor Eileen Kaner, co-author of the Newcastle University study, said limiting alcohol prices in England should be considered. 

The Newcastle University researchers graph shows the average amount of alcohol purchased per adult across Britain per day of the year in 2015 to 2019 (green line) and in 2020 (red line). The vertical black line marks when the Covid lockdown came into force on March 26, when all non-essential shops were forced to close and people were ordered to stay at home The Newcastle University researchers graph shows the average amount of alcohol purchased per adult across Britain per day of the year in 2015 to 2019 (green line) and in 2020 (red line). The vertical black line marks when the Covid lockdown came into force on March 26, when all non-essential shops were forced to close and people were ordered to stay at home

The Newcastle University researchers graph shows the average amount of alcohol purchased per adult across Britain per day of the year in 2015 to 2019 (green line) and in 2020 (red line). The vertical black line marks when the Covid lockdown came into force on March 26, when all non-essential shops were forced to close and people were ordered to stay at home

Figures from the ONS show fatality rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland were around a third higher than the UK average in 2020, with 21.5 and 19.6 deaths per 100,000, respectively. England and Wales continued to have lower rates of alcohol-specific deaths, with 13 and 13.9 deaths per 100,000 persons, respectively. However, the largest year-on-year increase was seen in England, where deaths increased by 19.3 per cent, and in Wales, where the figure rose 17.8 per cent Figures from the ONS show fatality rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland were around a third higher than the UK average in 2020, with 21.5 and 19.6 deaths per 100,000, respectively. England and Wales continued to have lower rates of alcohol-specific deaths, with 13 and 13.9 deaths per 100,000 persons, respectively. However, the largest year-on-year increase was seen in England, where deaths increased by 19.3 per cent, and in Wales, where the figure rose 17.8 per cent

Figures from the ONS show fatality rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland were around a third higher than the UK average in 2020, with 21.5 and 19.6 deaths per 100,000, respectively. England and Wales continued to have lower rates of alcohol-specific deaths, with 13 and 13.9 deaths per 100,000 persons, respectively. However, the largest year-on-year increase was seen in England, where deaths increased by 19.3 per cent, and in Wales, where the figure rose 17.8 per cent

Alcohol-related deaths in Britain hit highest ever level in 2020

Alcohol-related deaths in the UK rose to the highest level in nearly two decades in 2020. 

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows alcohol-related deaths across Britain spiked a fifth in a year to nearly 9,000, marking the highest annual increase since records began in 2001.

Deaths caused by alcohol have been increasing for a decade but in 2020 the fatality count rose by more than 1,400, equating to 14 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 Britons. 

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

ONS statisticians said ‘many complex factors’ contributed to the hike last year, but noted people drinking more alcohol during the pandemic would have been a factor.  

Ian Hamilton, an addiction expert at the University of York, told MailOnline people who were already drinking ‘risky’ amounts of alcohol consumed even more during the pandemic.

A survey by charity Drinkaware found boredom, having more time to drink and anxiety fuelled worrying trends in alcohol consumption during lockdowns. 

Official data shows 2020 saw the biggest leap in alcohol-related deaths in the UK in the last 20 years, with nearly 9,000 fatalities registered.  

Researchers analysed the shopping habits of 79,417 households from 2015 to 2020, covering 5million alcoholic drink purchases. 

Overall alcohol sales from shops was only 29 per cent during lockdowns. 

Heaviest drinkers bought an average of 38 units every week — the equivalent of just under a litre of vodka, or four bottles of wine.

For comparison, the NHS advises Britons not to drink more than 14 units per week — around six medium glasses of wine or six pints of beer.

Households in socially disadvantaged areas also bought more, as did those living in the North of England.

Professor Kaner said the findings, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, paint ‘a worrying picture’.

She said: ‘Covid has undoubtedly had an impact on drinking habits within the UK.

‘As we continue to live in uncertain times while moving towards recovery from Covid, it’s even more important we focus on alcohol harm prevention strategies, including those that limit very low pricing of alcohol.’ 

Meanwhile, Sir Ian said: ‘We know the number of high-risk drinkers in the UK is on the rise.

‘Numerous lockdowns, isolation, bereavement and job losses have changed many people’s relationship with alcohol over the course of the Covid pandemic.

‘We have seen deaths linked to alcohol reach record numbers and one in five people in the UK currently drink alcohol in a way that could harm their liver.’ 

Professor Peter Anderson, from Newcastle University, said the change in trends had  ‘undoubted consequences for both physical and mental health’. He warned it would lead to death in ‘many thousands of cases’. 

The ONS data shows the vast majority of deaths (77.8 per cent) were caused by alcoholic liver disease (green), which is when prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption over many years causes serious and permanent damage to the liver. Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use was the second leading cause of deaths (light blue), leading to 1,083 fatalities and accounting for 12 per cent of the deaths. Some 552 deaths were caused by accidental or intentional alcohol poisoning (dark blue, marked as external causes). Men in their 50s and early 60s were behind nearly a third of the deaths, while 20 per cent were recorded among women aged 45 to 65 The ONS data shows the vast majority of deaths (77.8 per cent) were caused by alcoholic liver disease (green), which is when prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption over many years causes serious and permanent damage to the liver. Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use was the second leading cause of deaths (light blue), leading to 1,083 fatalities and accounting for 12 per cent of the deaths. Some 552 deaths were caused by accidental or intentional alcohol poisoning (dark blue, marked as external causes). Men in their 50s and early 60s were behind nearly a third of the deaths, while 20 per cent were recorded among women aged 45 to 65

The ONS data shows the vast majority of deaths (77.8 per cent) were caused by alcoholic liver disease (green), which is when prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption over many years causes serious and permanent damage to the liver. Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use was the second leading cause of deaths (light blue), leading to 1,083 fatalities and accounting for 12 per cent of the deaths. Some 552 deaths were caused by accidental or intentional alcohol poisoning (dark blue, marked as external causes). Men in their 50s and early 60s were behind nearly a third of the deaths, while 20 per cent were recorded among women aged 45 to 65

The ONS data shows six out of the nine regions in England recorded a rise in alcohol deaths, with the West Midlands seeing the biggest rise (33.1 per cent), followed by the South West (32.2 per cent) and London (25.3 per cent). Alcohol fatalities also increased in the North East (20. 5 per cent), the North West (19.4 per cent) and the South East (18.5 per cent). Within England, there was huge regional disparity, with 9.2 per 100,000 deaths due to alcohol in the East, compared to 20 per 100,000 in the North East — the highest rate out of all regions in England The ONS data shows six out of the nine regions in England recorded a rise in alcohol deaths, with the West Midlands seeing the biggest rise (33.1 per cent), followed by the South West (32.2 per cent) and London (25.3 per cent). Alcohol fatalities also increased in the North East (20. 5 per cent), the North West (19.4 per cent) and the South East (18.5 per cent). Within England, there was huge regional disparity, with 9.2 per 100,000 deaths due to alcohol in the East, compared to 20 per 100,000 in the North East — the highest rate out of all regions in England

The ONS data shows six out of the nine regions in England recorded a rise in alcohol deaths, with the West Midlands seeing the biggest rise (33.1 per cent), followed by the South West (32.2 per cent) and London (25.3 per cent). Alcohol fatalities also increased in the North East (20. 5 per cent), the North West (19.4 per cent) and the South East (18.5 per cent). Within England, there was huge regional disparity, with 9.2 per 100,000 deaths due to alcohol in the East, compared to 20 per 100,000 in the North East — the highest rate out of all regions in England

DO YOU DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL? THE 10 QUESTIONS THAT REVEAL YOUR RISK

One screening tool used widely by medical professionals is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). Developed in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, the 10-question test is considered to be the gold standard in helping to determine if someone has alcohol abuse problems.

The test has been reproduced here with permission from the WHO.

To complete it, answer each question and note down the corresponding score.

YOUR SCORE:

0-7: You are within the sensible drinking range and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.

Over 8: Indicate harmful or hazardous drinking.

8-15: Medium level of risk. Drinking at your current level puts you at risk of developing problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider cutting down (see below for tips).

16-19: Higher risk of complications from alcohol. Cutting back on your own may be difficult at this level, as you may be dependent, so you may need professional help from your GP and/or a counsellor.

20 and over: Possible dependence. Your drinking is already causing you problems, and you could very well be dependent. You should definitely consider stopping gradually or at least reduce your drinking. You should seek professional help to ascertain the level of your dependence and the safest way to withdraw from alcohol.

Severe dependence may need medically assisted withdrawal, or detox, in a hospital or a specialist clinic. This is due to the likelihood of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the first 48 hours needing specialist treatment.

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