A new study in The Lancet has found that almost 4,000 additional deaths from alcohol have occurred since the pandemic. The main cause of death was liver disease.
The study also found that the largest absolute increases in deaths occurred in groups experiencing the most harm pre-pandemic, including men and those from the most deprived areas.
Lead author Dr Melissa Oldham (UCL) said:
The sharp increase in alcohol deaths during the pandemic was no flash in the pan. The higher rate has persisted and is getting worse each year.
It is an acute crisis, and urgent action is needed to prevent further avoidable deaths.
This includes substantial investment in health services to better detect and treat liver disease as well as policies to reduce alcohol consumption in the population as a whole, such as minimum unit pricing and advertising restrictions.
Commenting on the study, Dr Katherine Severi said:
It’s shocking to see that almost 4,000 more people died in England from alcohol than was expected since the pandemic, with the number continuing to rise.
We’ve known for years now that changing drinking habits during lockdowns increased levels of alcohol harm.
This study underlines the impact that had on worsening health inequalities across England.
The government has made tackling inequalities one of its health priorities. There is no way of doing that without introducing a comprehensive alcohol strategy that tackles cheap, excessively available, and aggressively marketed alcohol.