The ONS have released the latest Statistical bulletin for alcohol-related deaths in the UK (2012) [pdf]. It shows in 2012 there were 8,367 alcohol-related deaths in the UK, 381 fewer than in 2011 (8,748).
However alcohol-related deaths are still significantly higher than 20 years ago after rising rates during the 1990s. The number of alcohol-related deaths more than doubled from 4,144 in 1991 to 8,758 in 2006.
A 2012 Lancet piece also predicted a longer term rise for the future. Some health experts also believe that consumption, which has been falling since 2004, may start to increase again as the economy recovers. Alcohol-related hospital admissions are also still rising reflecting the longer term rise in consumption.
Key findings from the bulletin include:
- Males accounted for approximately 65% of all alcohol-related deaths in the UK in 2012.
- Death rates were highest among men aged 60 to 64 years (42.6 deaths per 100,000 population) and women aged 55 to 59 years (22.2 deaths per 100,000).
- Of the four UK constituent countries, only in Scotland were male and female death rates in 2012 significantly lower than in 2002.
- In England and Wales, 63% of all alcohol-related deaths in 2012 were caused by alcoholic liver disease, with 16% of these deaths occurring among those aged 55 to 59 years.
- In England, alcohol-related death rates were highest among regions in the North and lowest among those in the South throughout the period 2002–2012.
Areas of concern: older men and 'neknominate'?
Bucking the overall recent downward trend, alcohol-related death rates for older men aged 75 and over increased significantly between 2010 and 2012 as this Guardian article warned. Nevertheless, the 2012 death rate for this group is similar to 2002, and rates in elderly women have remained stable.
Attention has also been drawn to the risk of increasing alcohol poisoning cases following the spread of 'neknominate', a drinking challenge recently spreading across social media. Alcohol poisoning was the fourth highest alcohol-related cause of death in the UK responsible for 396 deaths in 2012. The ONS said: "There has been speculation that the influence of social media drinking games may drive these figures up in the future particularly among younger people."
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