Figures released by the Department for Health and Social Care today have reinforced the post-2019 trend of increasing alcohol-specific mortality, from 10.8 deaths per thousand in 2019, to 15 deaths per thousand (dpt) in 2023. Responses to these statistics have included a letter by the Alcohol Health Alliance to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, signed by industry leaders.
The 2019 Jump in Alcohol-related Deaths
In the period from 2006-2019, alcohol-related deaths seemed to hold constant, with even a slightly decreasing trend in the decade period (with a peak of 11.3 dpt in 2008, and a trough of 10 dpt in 2012).
But as seen from Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) figures copied above, the real shock hit in 2020, where the rate jumped from 10.8 dpt to 13.9 dpt, which translated to over 1,000 more deaths. Since then, the trend of increased alcohol-related deaths has continued, and whilst the rate of increase is softer, the total number of deaths increased by just under 2,500 people.
Public Reaction
In their letter to the Health Secretary, public health specialists called for ‘cross-government action’ including greater focus on alcohol-related deaths in the NHS 10-year plan. They also noted the importance of enhancing community-based services, addressing the affordability, availability and marketing of alcohol, and referenced Scotland’s minimum unit pricing as a potential model to reduce consumption.
The letter was co-signed by industry leaders including
- Dr Adrian Boyle, President at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Professor Tom Solomon CBE, Academic Vice President at the Royal College of Physicians
- Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive at the Institute of Alcohol Studies
- Julie Bass, Chief Executive at Turning Point
And dozens more.
A DHSC spokesperson said “it is unacceptable that alcohol deaths are now at record high levels”. The spokesperson also made mention of smoking and obesity as other public health issues, with the DHSC having recently made significant policy announcements on both smoking (the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which will, among other things, ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone currently under the age of 15) and obesity (using the Obesity Healthcare Goals to promote innovations to tackle high obesity rates, and proposing new drugs like Ozempic to tackle obesity)
What next for tackling overconsumption and alcohol-related deaths?
Professor Sir Gilmore points out ‘we know the solutions’: but how far is that true? and if know them, what are the challenges facing the implementation of these solutions? Across the world, countries face difficulties tackling substance use and abuse, from more potent substances like heroin and meth, to more commonly-used substances like alcohol or cannabis.
In their 2024 manifesto, the AHA called for ‘a comprehensive evidence-based strategy’, with 4 priorities
- Protect children and support people impacted by alcohol harm
- Empower individuals and build thriving communities
- Strengthen the NHS and frontline services
- Preserve the public purse
To achieve these four priorities, they looked at policies including tackling the marketing of alcohol (by defining it as an ‘unhealthy product’ or uplifting standards with an independent body), alcohol product labelling, increased interventions that are based on evidence, cross-government and reduce health inequalities, and finally, measures to increase minimum unit pricing and increase alcohol duty in line with inflation.
Whilst some of these policies, like increased interventions to keep people from alcohol abuse or reducing health inequalities, might seem attractive, some also face more controversy. Minimum unit pricing in particular, a policy that sets a minimum price for alcoholic drinks based on the number of units of alcohol (and so, making more concentrated drinks like spirits, more expensive that less concentrated drinks like beer), faces more backlash.
Whilst health groups like the British Medical Association supported the proposal, suggesting lower hospital admissions, death and lower social costs as key benefits, the retail sector tended to oppose the policies, arguing for regressive impacts on moderate drinkers and negative impacts on businesses. In 2013, the policy was abandoned in England and Wales. Wales would later (2020) adopt a minimum unit pricing.
So whilst some solutions exist (data shows the effect of minimum unit pricing to be a decrease in alcohol-related deaths), the question is whether the Government will have the willpower to carry out some of these changes. When the idea to ban smoking in pub gardens was floated by the Prime Minister, the Government soon dropped its plans following backlash… with a recent report form think tank Localis highlighting that 72% of British adults believing pubs benefit their communities, are we likely to see another limit to Labour’s ambition on tackling substance abuse?
Final Thought
Healthcare is one of the priorities of this new Government. From reducing waiting times and resolving Lord Darzi’s three shifts, to investing in the NHS and supporting our world-leading life sciences sector, expect a great deal of scrutiny on policies including alcohol policy, particularly in the NHS 10-year plan, due in Spring 2025.
Throughout this time, Curia’s Health, Care and Life Sciences Research Group will continue to work with leaders in the system to ensure that Government priorities can be (and are) implemented across communities, and care improves for patients. If you would like to find out more about joining our Research Group, click here.
