UK alcohol deaths fall for first time since Covid pandemic
Summary
The number of alcohol-related deaths in the UK has fallen for the first time since the Covid pandemic, with 9,809 deaths recorded in 2024. Despite this decrease, experts say the death rate remains very high and call for stronger government action to reduce alcohol harm.Key Facts
- In 2024, there were 9,809 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK, the lowest since 2021.
- Alcohol-specific death rates were 14.8 per 100,000 people in 2024, down from record highs in 2023.
- England and Wales saw a drop in death rates, but Scotland and Northern Ireland still had the highest rates.
- Men died from alcohol-related causes at nearly twice the rate of women in 2024.
- Economic stress, cheap alcohol available in shops, and pandemic-related anxiety contributed to high drinking levels.
- The North East of England had the highest alcohol death rate; London had the lowest.
- Older people (80 and over) experienced an increase in alcohol-related deaths, likely due to long-term effects.
- Health groups urge the UK government to impose minimum pricing on alcohol and control online alcohol marketing.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.