Alcohol-related deaths for men doubled in 12 years

The number of alcohol-related deaths that could have been prevented has more than doubled in men since 1993, figures show.

In 1993, 1,776 men died from alcohol-related disease that could have been avoided, rising to 3,884 in 2005. In 1993, 1,049 women died from alcohol-related disease, rising 67 per cent to 1,873 in 2005.

However, the statistics only relate to the number of death certificates where conditions related to alcohol are specifically mentioned, such as cirrhosis of the liver. Charities have put the real figure at more than 22,000 premature deaths a year and, three years ago, government estimates ran at 16,000 to 22,000 deaths a year.

The charity Alcohol Concern estimates that 60 people die every day from drink-related causes.

According to government figures, more than 90 per cent of the adult population consumes alcohol. Fears have been raised over an increase in binge drinking.

The report, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) related to deaths of those under the age of 75 in England and Wales. The ONS released figures in February showing there were 8,386 such deaths across the UK.

Yesterday, it said the alcohol-related disease death rate went up from 7.3 men per 100,000 population in 1993 in England and Wales to 14.4 per 100,000 population in 2005. In women, the rate went from 4.0 per 100,000 in 1993 to 6.7 per 100,000 in 2005.

Levin Wheller, who presented the data, said the figures were more likely to reflect long-term heavy drinking leading to problems such as cirrhosis of the liver than short-term binge drinking.

In 2004, the Government launched a strategy for dealing with the problems of alcohol abuse. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy proposed a number of measures to improve early identification and treatment of alcohol problems.

They included improved training to help NHS staff spot the signs of alcohol abuse and a national audit of alcohol treatment services. But Alcohol Concern said the plan lacked muscle and it wants the treatment issue to be properly addressed in the new strategy, currently in the process of being drafted.

The number of people taken to accident and emergency departments for injuries related to drinking has also risen sharply.

Independent