Alcohol-Related Deaths at Record High in 2020

Martha Davies looks at how the pandemic has aggravated alcohol-related issues in the UK.

Photo by Biljana Martinic

The figures demonstrate that there were 12.8 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 people across England and Wales in the first three quarters of 2020. In total, 5,460 deaths with causes linked to alcohol were recorded between January and September – a 16.4% increase compared with the same period in the preceding year. This is the biggest toll since data first began being tracked by the ONS in 2001.

The study reports that rates of male alcohol-specific deaths were double those of females, a trend consistent with previous years, and they were also disproportionately high in more deprived areas of the UK. 

It also indicates that the period spanning the first lockdown saw a sharp rise in alcohol-related fatalities. This is likely connected to the isolation that lockdown caused, as well as its impact on access to addiction resources and medical treatment.

The bulk of alcohol-related fatalities resulted from chronic health conditions created by longer term heavy or dependent drinking. Although experts have emphasised the varied and complex reasons behind the findings, it is clear that the pandemic has had a notable effect on a number of already pressing medical matters.

The country was brought to a terrifying halt on March 23, 2020, when stay-at-home orders were introduced in an effort to contain the first wave of coronavirus. The restrictions have taken their toll on people across the country, and they also served to aggravate issues like alcohol dependency. With pubs closed, alcohol consumption shifted entirely to the home, increasing the risk of frequent drinking.

Alcoholic liver disease accounted for the majority of the deaths recorded by the ONS, and a factor contributing to 2020’s excess fatalities may have been fear of going into hospital when COVID-19 cases were soaring. Deaths also could have resulted from people not receiving their usual treatment, rather than because they were drinking more - experts have emphasised that the rise in deaths is likely due to more factors than simply an increase in alcohol consumption.

The second highest cause of alcohol-related fatalities was mental illness, a problem which has dramatically worsened in lockdown. Restrictions on socialising and travel have generated feelings of loneliness for many, and prevented those struggling from being able to lean on family and friends or get help from treatment plans and support groups, which could also explain the rise in alcohol-related deaths.

The ONS figures remind us of the indirect effects of coronavirus; beyond the immediate threat of infection, existing illnesses have been exacerbated due to restrictions and burdens on hospitals and support staff. 

In spite of 2020’s record high, alcohol-specific deaths constitute a threat that has existed long before the pandemic; in fact, alcohol-related hospital admissions had already reached a peak in the UK in 2018-19. Experts have been warning us for years about the dangers of alcohol dependency and the inability of hospitals and addiction services to cope with the amount of people whose health is affected by drinking.

What is required is government action, including increased healthcare funding to ensure those facing addiction can access the support they need. The UK would also benefit from policy changes including marketing control, reduced availability of alcohol, and increased pricing, as well as a higher rollout of alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits. Organisations like the Alcohol Health Alliance state that alcohol-related deaths can be prevented by reforms like these. 

 The pandemic has reminded us of the vital importance of a well-equipped public health system, but this goes further than infections and emergency treatment. We must remember the threats we were facing before coronavirus entered our lives, and think about the steps that must be taken to deal with these threats. The ONS data makes clear that alcohol dependency is one such urgent issue that must be addressed.

Article on a similar topic: The Hidden Impact of a National Lockdown

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