The number of alcohol-related deaths in the UK has more than doubled over the past 10 years, accordi...
The number of alcohol-related deaths in the UK has more than doubled over the past 10 years, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Latest figures from the Government-funded website revealed that in 2004, 8,380 people died directly due to excessive alcohol consumption compared with 4,144 in 1991 - an increase of 4,236.
Death rates were also found to be much higher for men than for women, with the gap between the sexes becoming wider in recent years.
In 2004, men accounted for more than two thirds of the total number of drink-related deaths, with the death rate being 17.7 deaths per 100,000 population compared with only 8.5 deaths for female.
Regardless of sex, people between the age of 35 to 54 were found to account for the majority of alcohol-related deaths, with men in this age group having the highest death rate each year. Middle-aged women were also found to be the biggest risk group, with this group suffering a larger increase than women in any other age group.
According to estimates, alcohol causes approximately 10% of all ill health and premature deaths in Europe.
Industry experts believe the number of early death claims related to alcohol will continue to rise and they are concerned that, if the binge drinking trend among the younger population continues, they will be facing huge problems in terms of an increasing number of early claims. Critical illness, for example, should be of particular concern.
Most of the alcohol-related deaths were caused by cirrhosis and chronic liver disease and may also have resulted from accidental alcohol poisoning.
The tolls do not include deaths where alcohol is merely suspected to be involved.
