A concerning new map highlights a significant disparity between the north and south regions of the UK in terms of alcohol-related deaths. In 2024, 9,809 individuals lost their lives due to alcohol-specific causes, such as liver disease and mental health disorders directly linked to alcohol consumption. Although this marked a 6% decrease from the previous year’s record of 10,473 deaths, it was still 30% higher than in 2019 before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The data reveals a sharp 19% increase in alcohol-related deaths between 2019 and 2020 during the lockdown period, with these elevated rates persisting thereafter. Men are shown to be twice as likely as women to die directly from alcohol consumption, with 6,480 males succumbing to alcohol-specific causes last year, resulting in a mortality rate of 20.2 deaths per 100,000 males, compared to 3,329 female deaths at a rate of 9.7 per 100,000 females.
Northern Ireland experienced the highest mortality rate due to alcohol, surpassing Scotland for the first time since 2019. With a record 21.4 alcohol-specific deaths per 100,000 population, Northern Ireland slightly edged out Scotland’s rate of 20.9. Meanwhile, Wales (16.8) and England (13.8) had lower mortality rates, indicating a lower likelihood of alcohol-related deaths.
Within England, a notable North-South divide was evident, with the North East region recording the highest mortality rate at 21.1, followed by the North West (16.8) and the West Midlands (16.5). Conversely, the South regions, particularly London (10.9) and the South East (11.1), reported significantly lower mortality rates.
Local authority data highlighted areas with particularly high mortality rates, such as Glasgow in Scotland (32.9) and Belfast in Northern Ireland (31.1). In England, regions like South Tyneside (28.9), Sunderland (26.8), and Middlesbrough (26.3) stood out for their elevated rates. Notably, Southampton in the South (26.3) and Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands (25.8) were outliers in their respective regions.
Regions with elevated mortality rates may benefit from additional resources and targeted interventions to address alcohol-related issues effectively. Simon Phillips, CEO of WithYou, a drug and alcohol treatment provider in England and Scotland, emphasized the need for increased investment in treatment services to combat preventable deaths and highlighted the importance of evidence-based strategies and addressing underlying social and economic factors contributing to alcohol-related harm.
