‘Catastrophic’ death toll ‘tip of iceberg’

by Christine Humphreys

Published: December 19, 2024

A ‘catastrophic’ rise in deaths from alcohol is ‘the tip of the iceberg’ health experts say.

Figures show an unprecedented increase of 42% fatalities directly from booze since 2019 in England.

8,274 people lost their lives solely to alcohol in 2023 showing the biggest increase ever recorded in a four year period since monitoring began.

But experts say the true toll is three times higher when alcohol-related deaths from cancer, heart disease and mental illness are taken into account.

The Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) that represents the medical royal colleges, treatment providers and academics is now demanding government action to stem the tide in 2025.

Nearly 950,000 hospital admissions each year are linked to alcohol, accounting for 6% of all hospitalisations costing the NHS £4.91 billion annually, says the AHA.

In a letter to the UK health minister Wes Streeting, AHA experts highlight Scotland’s minimum unit pricing (MUP) which they say has reduced alcohol-related harm and call for similar measures in England.

The letter states: “...deaths caused solely by alcohol have increased by a catastrophic 42% since 2019.

“In 2023, 8,274 people lost their lives to alcohol: the sharp end of a spectrum of harm that ripples through society and is putting growing pressures on our economy and health services.

“This number can be seen as the tip of the iceberg as it reflects deaths wholly attributable to alcohol and not those where alcohol was a contributing factor, a figure likely to be three times higher.”

The AHA is demanding increased funding and access to alcohol treatment services, an NHS 10-year plan to prioritise reducing alcohol harm and UK policies to address the affordability, availability and marketing of alcohol.

The experts warn that without urgent action, the crisis will escalate further, placing an even greater burden on healthcare systems, the economy, and society at large.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the AHA, said: “These new statistics are a stark reminder of the devastating impact alcohol takes on our society. Without bold, decisive action, these preventable deaths will continue to climb.

“We have the evidence, and we know the solutions. Now is the moment to show that we value human lives over profit.

“Evidence from Scotland has clearly demonstrated how policies such as minimum unit pricing (MUP) have saved lives, while inaction across the border has led English deaths to spiral.

“Alcohol-related harm does not occur in isolation. It ripples through families, often leaving children to bear the brunt of grief and trauma. The devastating rise in alcohol deaths should serve as an alarm for the new government to act with urgency.”

About The Author

Christine Humphreys

Chris Humphreys is the co-founder of The Alcohol-Free Shop and AlcoholFree.com. She was a journalist for more years than she cares to remember. Ex-wife of an alcoholic, enthusiastic amateur musician and a passionate dog lover.