Deaths from alcohol at record high in England

There has been “a catastrophic rise” in deaths caused solely by alcohol in England over the past four years, government figures suggest.

More than 8,200 people died because of alcohol in 2023 – a 42% rise on 2019 – with the North East having the highest rates.

Analysis by the Institute of Alcohol Studies suggests 55-74-year-olds “are now the heaviest-drinking age group”, which it says could be driving current trends.

The Alcohol Health Alliance UK says alcohol consumption could be reduced if a minimum price for each unit was introduced, as in Scotland.

In Scotland, where alcohol-specific death rates have always been higher, there were 1,277 deaths from alcohol in 2023, external – the same as the previous year.

The Alliance says minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland, introduced in 2018, “has proven effective in reducing alcohol-related harm”.

The minimum cost of a unit of alcohol there has risen from 50p to 65p in recent months. This means no alcoholic drink can be sold for anything below this price.