Alcohol-specific deaths 2018
The latest ONS figures on alcohol-specific deaths show in 2018 there were 7,551 deaths registered in the UK related to alcohol-specific causes. The rate is the second highest since records began in 2001, representing a 13% increase over the period, but down by 146 from the previous year's peak of 7,697. Alcohol-specific death rates were highest among men aged 55 to 59 years and women aged 60 to 64 years in 2018, at least twice as high among men and highest in Scotland.
An article in The Conversation explores the range of factors behind alcohol deaths, calling for better use of policy measures available to reduce alcohol harms. An IAS blog has explored the party manifestos say on alcohol policy (see APUK's analysis here) ahead of the forthcoming snap election on December 12.
Health Survey England (HSE) 2018
According to the latest HSE data, 82% of adults had drunk alcohol in the last 12 months (86% of men and 79% of women). Nearly half (49%) of adults usually drank alcohol at least once a week or more often, with men more likely than women to do so (58% and 41% respectively). For estimated weekly consumption, 60% of adults drank at lower risk levels, i.e. within the CMO's 14 unit per recommended weekly guidelines.
At levels above the guidelines, 25% of men drank at increasing risk levels (between 14 and 50 units) and 11% of women (between 14 units and 35 units) as a weekly estimate. Higher risk (or harmful drinking) was reported by 5% of men (over 50 units per week) and by 3% of women (over 35 units). The proportion of men and women usually drinking over 14 units in a week varied across age groups and was most common among men and women aged 55 to 64 (38% and 19% respectively).
Scotland: latest hospital admission and young people data
The latest Alcohol-Related Hospital Statistics in Scotland for 2018/19 have been released, with a figures of 38,370 alcohol-related hospital admissions, similar to the previous year. Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said,
"It’s disappointing that the overall level of hospitalisations in 2018/19 has remained similar to the previous year. However, beneath the headline figure there are indications that both the number of admissions and the number of people admitted due to alcoholic liver disease have decreased. Alcoholic liver disease is one of the alcohol-related health-harms that is most responsive to changes in consumption."
Worrying signs have been identified by latest figures on children and young people's drinking in Scotland, via the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) alcohol report 2018. As Alcohol Focus Scotland highlight, among all groups, the proportion of pupils who have ever had an alcoholic drink has increased since the last survey in 2015. Drinking in the last week also increased in all groups except 15 year old girls. In addition, there has been an increase in the proportion of pupils who had ever been drunk, with the exception of 15 year olds boys.
Domestic Abuse
ONS Figures on domestic abuse show 16.6% of victims believed the offender was under the influence of alcohol, whilst 8.1% of victims reported that they were under the influence. However the bulletin notes caution should be taken interpreting these figures due to the relatively large proportion of “don’t know” (21%) or “don’t want to answer” (14.5%) responses for some of these questions. Regarding all violent crime, victims believed the perpetrator(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 39% of 561,000 violent incidents (218,790) for the year 2017/18.
Figures for England are expected to be included in the next annual national statistics for alcohol in England (see current release here).
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