Baku, December 19, AZERTAC

Public health groups have called on Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to make addressing alcohol harm a top priority in 2025.

According to the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), this follows alarming new statistics that show, in just the last four years, there has been a catastrophic 42% rise in deaths in England caused solely by alcohol. Such a devastating rise in death rate has never been seen before.

In a letter sent to Mr. Streeting, members of the Alcohol Health Alliance including medical royal colleges, treatment providers, and academics, highlight the devastating toll of alcohol-related harm on individuals, families, and communities, as well as the escalating pressures on England’s healthcare system and economy.

In 2023, 8,274 people lost their lives solely to alcohol—a harrowing figure that represents only the tip of the iceberg, the letter states. When cases where alcohol was a contributing factor are considered, the true toll is likely three times higher.

The AHA notes that nearly 950,000 hospital admissions each year are linked to alcohol, accounting for 6% of all hospitalisations. Beyond the physical health implications—including links to seven types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes—alcohol also significantly impacts mental health, with 70% of those in alcohol treatment also reporting mental health needs.

The financial burden is equally stark, with alcohol estimated to cost the NHS £4.91 billion annually.

The letter also calls attention to the inequalities in alcohol harm across England, with the North East suffering a mortality rate more than twice as high as London. Hospitalisations and deaths are also disproportionately concentrated in the most deprived communities.

To address this, the AHA urges the government to implement a comprehensive response, leveraging the Health Mission board to drive much needed cross-government action. The letter highlights evidence from Scotland, where minimum unit pricing (MUP) has proven effective in reducing alcohol-related harm and calls for similar measures in England to halt the rising death toll.

The AHA also endorses the Medical Council on Alcohol’s recommendations to increase funding and access to alcohol treatment services and for the NHS 10-year plan to prioritise strengthening the health service’s response to alcohol harm, alongside the adoption of policies that tackle the affordability, availability, and marketing of alcohol, as outlined in the AHA’s manifesto.