Drink – have we all had enough?
Feb 12 2008 by Matthew Mckenzie, The Journal
THE North East is sitting on an alcohol time bomb with younger people now suffering from liver disease amid a soaring drink-related death toll.
More than 3,600 people in the region have died from alcohol-related conditions since 1997, with the number of people affected by liver and heart disease, as well as mental health problems brought on by drink, rising every year.
The North East saw 323 deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in 1997, a figure which climbed to 435 in 2006, according to latest available figures. Research has also suggested the cost of alcohol consumption could be £1bn a year.
The Office for National Statistics data shows the death toll has risen across the UK massively as well. In England alone, 4,437 such deaths were recorded in 1997 but this had soared to 6,517 in 2006.
Alcohol-related deaths include alcoholism, poisoning, degeneration of the nervous system and heart disease. The figures do not cover deaths caused by drink-related car crashes or violent incidents.
Last night, experts warned it was time to act to prevent even more families losing loved ones to alcohol.
Former health secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn, who uncovered the figures, said: “Most people enjoy a drink but the misuse of alcohol is a growing problem.
“These figures call for more action to stem what is a shocking and rising toll of deaths from alcohol misuse.
“The drinks industry, the police, NHS, schools and national and local government all have a part to play.”
Liver specialist Christopher Record said the age of his patients was falling as alcohol consumption had risen by 50% and its affordability dropped by half over the past 25 years.
Patients used to be normally in their 50s but this has dropped to 40, while patients were now in their 20s and 30s, according to Dr Record, who works at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary.
“It is time that the Government faced up to this. We are sitting on a time bomb. There has to be a change in society,” said Dr Record, who claimed a Whitehall alcohol-reduction strategy had achieved little apart from labelling on drinks from this year.
He said people used to stop drinking when they got married, but the middle-class in particular was now continuing for a decade longer into their 30s, when they finally got married and had children.
The strength of alcohol and size of measures has also grown despite the recommended limit for men set at four units and three for women – with a bottle of wine consisting of nine units and a pint of beer up to two and a half units.
Dr Record called for action on drinks promotions, claiming some offered a unit of alcohol for less than a packet of crisps. He claimed one supermarket’s cider offer was the equivalent of 11p a unit – although stores insist they are responsible.
National charity Alcohol Concern warned it was difficult to envisage the situation improving without more support for agencies helping people bring their drinking to more sustainable levels.
A spokesman said: “The Government estimates that only one in 103 people who need treatment in the region are able to access it. These are by far the worst access levels in the country.”
North East health bosses said work to improve treatment and services was under way, in partnership with councils and other organisations.
NHS North of Tyne, covering Newcastle and North Tyneside primary care trusts and Northumberland Care Trust, said examples included GPs and nurses providing better information and advice.
A regional office for safe consumption of alcohol will also lobby for a tax increase on alcohol to cut excess usage, alongside greater regulation of outlets and cut-price sales.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the Government was working harder than ever to promote sensible drinking. An imminent £10m education campaign will highlight alcohol content in different drinks and dangers of having too much alcohol.
