AHA urges the health secretary to make addressing alcohol harm his New Year’s resolution
Public health experts are calling for a stronger, comprehensive government intervention to tackle the escalating levels of alcohol-related harm in England, as new data reveals a significant rise in alcohol deaths.
Official figures indicate a “catastrophic rise” in alcohol-related deaths, with 8,274 people dying in 2023 alone—a 42% increase since 2019.
Official figures indicate a “catastrophic rise” in deaths caused solely by alcohol, with 8,274 people dying in 2023 alone—a 42 per cent increase since 2019.
The North East recorded the highest mortality rates, more than double those in London.
The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), which represents 60 organisations working to reduce alcohol-related harm, has warned that this number represents only the tip of the iceberg as it reflects deaths wholly attributable to alcohol.
When cases where alcohol was a contributing factor are considered, the death toll could triple the current estimates, they said.
In a letter to health secretary Wes Streeting, AHA members urged him to prioritise addressing this alarming trend as his New Year’s resolution and stop the “needless suffering of countless individuals, their children, families and communities across the country.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the AHA, said: “Alcohol-related harm does not occur in isolation. It ripples through families, often leaving children to bear the brunt of grief and trauma.
“The devastating rise in alcohol deaths should serve as an alarm for the new government to act with urgency.”
The AHA highlighted the widespread impact of alcohol on public health, citing almost 950,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions annually, representing six per cent of all hospitalisations.
“Not only is alcohol linked to seven types of cancer and cardiovascular disease, it also plays a significant role in poor mental health, with 70 per cent of those in alcohol treatment also reporting a mental health need.”
The financial toll is equally stark, with alcohol costing the NHS an estimated £4.91 billion each year.
The letter also underscored significant disparities in alcohol harm across England, with hospitalisations and deaths disproportionately affecting the most deprived communities.
To address this crisis, the AHA proposed implementing effective policies, such as minimum unit pricing (MUP), as in Scotland.
They also called for leveraging the Health Mission board to mobilise cross-government action and for the NHS 10-year plan to prioritize strengthening the health service response to alcohol harm.
The Medical Council on Alcohol’s recommendations were also endorsed, including enhanced funding for alcohol care teams, improved access to community-based alcohol services, and better integration of care pathways.
Furthermore, they stressed the need for the adoption of policies that tackle the affordability, availability, and marketing of alcohol, as outlined in the AHA’s manifesto.
“Without bold, decisive action, these preventable deaths will continue to climb,” Professor Gilmore stated.
“Addressing alcohol harm must be a top public health priority in 2025, and it requires a cross-government effort to turn the tide on this public health crisis,” he added.
The experts also highlighted the broader benefits of reducing alcohol consumption, which could support other health priorities like smoking cessation and weight management. Alcohol is also a key driver of crime, including domestic violence.
They cautioned that, if left unchecked, the alcohol harm crisis will only escalate further, placing an ever-greater burden on our healthcare system, economy and society.
“We know what works, and now is the time to act,” the letter concluded.
Official Statistics reveal that around 3,800 individuals in England and Wales were fitted with an alcohol monitoring device at the end of November 2024, an increase of about 1,000 compared to the figure recorded at the end of December 2023.
Graeme Duncan 