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There are stark geographical divisions in the toll alcohol takes on health in
England, with men in the North West more likely to die prematurely than those
in the South East, figures show.
Data collected by the North West Public Health Observatory shows almost 16,000
people died in England last year as a result of alcohol-related harm.
Two-thirds of the areas with the highest harm levels were in the North.
But alcohol-attributable crime was at its peak in London.
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Start Quote
Legislation or initiatives will not work unless we have a better understanding
of what drives people's decisions
End Quote Lord Howe Health Minister
The Local Alcohol Profiles in England report recorded an 8% annual increase in
the number of people hospitalised for conditions relating to alcohol use, with
606,799 people seeking treatment last year.
The number is an extrapolation based on a list of 40 conditions, and includes
those known to be directly caused by alcohol, like liver cirrhosis, to those
which may be caused by drinking too much - such as high blood pressure or
assault.
Although there is no medical confirmation that patients have these conditions
through alcohol consumption, the researchers assume on the basis of a previous
studies that a certain proportion will have been caused by misuse.
Price problems
The researchers found some stark regional divisions.
Liverpool had the highest rate of hospital admissions for alcohol-related harm.
In Blackpool, researchers calculated that if all alcohol-related deaths were
prevented, men would be living on average nearly two years more. In Bracknell
Forest, this figure was just four months longer.
Blackpool also saw the highest rate of incapacity benefit due to alcoholism,
and Broadland, in Norfolk, the lowest.
But while two-thirds of local authorities suffering the highest rates of
alcohol-related harm were in the North West and North East, areas in and around
London registered the highest rate of alcohol-related crimes - with Newham,
Westminster, Slough and Islington faring the worst.
Professor Mark Bellis, director of the observatory said: "The price we pay for
turning a blind eye to the real extent of alcohol abuse across England is
reflected in the new Local Alcohol Profiles for England and it is a price that
is paid especially by the poorest communities.
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Prof Mark Bellis, director of Health Observatory: 'We have to change our
culture of drunkenness'
"It is time to recognise that we are not a population of responsible drinkers
with just a hand full of irresponsible individuals ruining it for others.
"We need to see the real cost of alcohol reflected in the price it is sold at,
and the warnings about the dangers that alcohol represents not relegated to a
tiny corner in alcohol adverts, but written large enough for people to
recognise the seriousness of the risks."
Health minister Lord Howe said the government was already taking action to stop
the sale of alcohol below cost and to review alcohol taxation and price.
"Supply and price are not the only factors fuelling misuse though, attitudes
are crucial. We need to understand better the psychology behind why different
groups of people drink too much. Legislation or initiatives will not work
unless we have a better understanding of what drives people's decisions.
"We will work across government, and with communities and families, to
challenge negative social norms that cause social problems and promote the
positives."