May 18th 2024.
According to recent estimates, the cost of alcohol abuse in England is a staggering £27.4 billion each year. This includes a significant increase of over 40% since 2003, as reported by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS). This cost far exceeds the tax revenue from alcohol, which is only around £12.5 billion annually.
The IAS also noted that a significant portion of this cost, £4.9 billion to be exact, is attributed to the harm caused to the National Health Service (NHS). To put this in perspective, this amount is enough to cover the salaries of almost half the nurses in England. Dr. Katherine Severi, the chief executive of the IAS, expressed concern over the steady rise in alcohol consumption and the record high number of alcohol-related deaths.
She stressed the need for the government to develop a comprehensive alcohol strategy to address this growing problem, which would also help reduce the financial burden. The IAS's calculations show that the North East region has the highest cost per person of alcohol harm, at £562 per year. Susan Taylor, head of alcohol policy at the regional alcohol office Balance, called for urgent action to address the crisis and prevent further harm to the region's people, streets, health, and economy.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, highlighted the preventable nature of alcohol-related harms and the significant amount of time and resources healthcare professionals spend treating them. He also criticized the government for being influenced by the alcohol industry's economic contributions and not prioritizing the harm caused by alcohol.
Julie Bass, chief executive of Turning Point, emphasized the preventable nature of alcohol-related deaths and called for early identification and appropriate support for those at risk. However, the chief executive of the Portman Group, Matt Lambert, representing the alcohol industry, argued that the IAS's figures do not take into account the industry's significant direct economic contribution, which was estimated to be £46 billion per year in 2017.
He also mentioned that the industry is committed to promoting moderate drinking and supporting local partnerships to address harm, such as anti-social behavior and underage drinking. Lambert also noted that the majority of people in the UK drink responsibly and that harmful behaviors have decreased in the last decade.
In response to these alarming figures, a Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman highlighted the government's efforts to address alcohol harm through their 10-year drug strategy and increased funding for alcohol and drug support. She also mentioned their support for specialist alcohol care teams in hospitals and the recent reforms to alcohol duty, which taxes products based on their alcohol content. The government is also reviewing the official cost estimates of alcohol harm to inform their future efforts in addressing this issue.
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