Warning of alcohol death toll
Tuesday October 20th, 2009
Tens of thousands of people could die from direct effects of binge drinking in the UK in the next decade, experts warned yesterday.
Britain is facing a "remarkable" epidemic of disease linked to alcohol, researchers said.
The figures were published in a report by Alochol Concern and researchers from the University of the West of England.
It warns that as many as 90,000 people could die from alcohol poisoning and diseases directly caused by alcohol, such as cirrhosis of the liver.
The report says deaths have trebled in the last 25 years, increasing from just over 3,000 in 1984 to 8,999 in 2008.
Professor Martin Plant, of the University of the West of England, called for a minimum price for drink of 50p per unit - meaning that a typical bottle of wine could not sell for less than £3.
He said: "The UK has been experiencing an epidemic of alcohol-related health and social problems that is remarkable by international standards."
The findings were backed by the Royal College of Physians and also the Royal College of Nursing.
RCP president Professor Ian Gilmore said: "Over the next decade alcohol
misuse is set to kill more people than the population of a city the size
of Bath.
"Much of this tragic loss of life, often in young and otherwise productive people, could be prevented if our policy-makers followed the evidence for what works."
And Dr Peter Carter, of the RCN, said: "For 90,000 lives to be thrown away as a result of excessive drinking would be an absolute tragedy.
"As well as causing unimaginable suffering for the families and friends of those involved, more people needing hospital treatment for alcohol-related reasons means extra pressure on an already over-stretched and pressurised health service."
Plant, M; Miller, P & Coghill, N. Future Proof Can We Afford the Cost of Drinking Too Much Alcohol Consumption, Mortality & Morbidity (Alcohol & Health Research Unit, Centre for Public Health Research, University of the West of England)
Tags: Drug and Alcohol Abuse | General Health | UK News
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