Alcohol Consumption UK: Consequences

In 2023, there were 8,276 alcohol-specific deaths in England.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 15.0 per 100,000 population which increased from 10.8 in 2019.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for men was 20.6 per 100,000 population compared to 9.7 for women.

Source: Office for National Statistics - Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK

In 2023, there were 562 alcohol-specific deaths in Wales.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 17.7 per 100,000 population which increased from 11.9 in 2019.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for men was 23.5 per 100,000 population compared to 12.2 for women.

Source: Office for National Statistics - Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK

In 2023, there were 1,277 alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 22.6 per 100,000 population which increased from 18.5 in 2019.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for men was 31.8 per 100,000 population compared to 14.1 for women.

Source: Office for National Statistics - Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK

In 2023, there were 341 alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 18.5 per 100,000 population which decreased from 18.7 in 2019.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for men was 24.7 per 100,000 population compared to 12.5 for women.

Source: Office for National Statistics - Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK

In 2023, there were 10,473 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 15.9 per 100,000 population which increased from 11.8 in 2019.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for men was 21.9 per 100,000 population compared to 10.3 for women.

Source: Office for National Statistics - Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK

Based on a broad measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2023/24, there were an estimated 1,018,986 admissions related to alcohol consumption in England.
• The rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions was 1,824 per 100,000 population.

Based on a narrow measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2023/24, there were an estimated 280,747 admissions where the main reason was attributable to alcohol in England.
• The rate of admissions where the main reason was attributable to alcohol was 504 per 100,000 population.

Source: Local Alcohol Profiles for England

Based on a broad measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2023/24, the rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions in Wales was 1,587.2 per 100,000 population.

Based on a narrow measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2023/24, the rate of admissions to hospital with an alcohol-specific condition in Wales was 462.7 per 100,000 population.

Source: Health Maps Wales

In 2023/24, there were 32,301 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland.

• Most alcohol-related hospital admissions occurred in general acute hospitals (29,829) with 2,469 occurring in psychiatric hospitals.
• The rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions to general acute and psychiatric hospitals was 594.5 per 100,000 population.

Source: Public Health Scotland - Alcohol related hospital statistics

Based on a broad measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2019/20, 8,263 men and 3,463 women were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions in Northern Ireland.

Based on a narrow measure of alcohol-related hospital admissions:

• In 2019/20, 3,092 men and 1,100 women were admitted to hospital where the main reason was attributable to alcohol in Northern Ireland.

Source: HSCNI - Extent of substance use and misuse in Northern Ireland

In 2024, 3% of adults were drinking at possible dependent levels (AUDIT score 20+).

• 5% of men and 2% of women drank at possible dependent levels.
• The proportion of adults drinking at possible dependent levels remained stable at around 3% between 2021 and 2024. 

Source: Drinkaware Monitor

In 2024, 2% of adults were drinking at possible dependent levels (AUDIT score 20+).

• 3% of men and 2% of women drank at possible dependent levels.
• The proportion of adults drinking at possible dependent levels remained stable at around 2% between 2021 and 2024.

Source: Drinkaware Monitor

In 2024, 3% of adults were drinking at possible dependent levels (AUDIT score 20+).

• 5% of men and 2% of women drank at possible dependent levels.
• The proportion of adults drinking at possible dependent levels increased from 2% to 3% between 2021 and 2024.

Source: Drinkaware Monitor

In 2024, 3% of adults were drinking at possible dependent levels (AUDIT score 20+).

• 5% of men and 1% of women drank at possible dependent levels.
• The proportion of adults drinking at possible dependent levels remained stable at around 3-4% between 2021 and 2024.

Source: Drinkaware Monitor

In 2024, 3% of adults were drinking at possible dependent levels (AUDIT score 20+).

• 4% of men and 2% of women drank at possible dependent levels.
• The proportion of adults drinking at possible dependent levels remained stable at 3% between 2021 and 2024. 

Source: Drinkaware Monitor

In 2023/24, there were an estimated 136,371 people in treatment for alcohol in England

• 94,173 were in treatment for alcohol only while 42,198 were in treatment for non-opiates and alcohol. 
• 86,530 men and 49,841 women were in treatment for alcohol. 

Source: Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2023 to 2024

In 2021/22, there were 8,536 referrals to treatment services where the main problematic substance was alcohol in Wales

• 4,500 of these referrals were for men and 4,036 were for women.
• The number of referrals where alcohol was the main problematic substance declined from 9,404 to 8,534 between 2017/18 and 2021/22.

Source: Treatment Data – Substance Misuse in Wales

In 2019/20, there were 75,616 Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABIs) delivered in Scotland

• The number of ABIs delivered decreased from 80,575 in 2018/19.
• 39,836 ABIs were delivered in primary care settings, 9,352 in Accident & Emergency departments, 1,645 antenatal settings, 24,783 were delivered in wider settings.

Source: Alcohol Brief Interventions

In 2023/24, a total of 2,615 clients had presented to treatment for alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland

• The number of client presenting to treatment for alcohol misuse declined from 2,705 in 2016/17 to 2,615 in 2023/24.

Source: Statistics from the Northern Ireland Substance Misuse Database 2023/24

In 2022, approximately 6,140 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit in England

• The number of people injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit decreased from 8,340 to 6,140 between 2010 and 2022.
• There were 4,190 drink drive collisions in 2022 which declined from 5,710 in 2010.
• 270 people died in drink drive collisions which increased from 210 in 2010.

Source: Department for Transport - Reported drinking and driving: data tables

In 2022, approximately 350 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit in Wales

• The number of people injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit decreased from 610 to 350 between 2010 and 2022.
• There were 230 drink drive collisions in 2022 which declined from 380 in 2010.
• 10 people died in drink drive collisions which remained stable from 10 in 2010.

Source: Department for Transport - Reported drinking and driving: data tables

In 2022, approximately 310 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit in Scotland

• The number of people injured or killed on roads where a drive or rider was over the alcohol limit decreased from 740 to 310 between 2010 and 2022.
• There were 200 drink drive collisions in 2022 which declined from 530 in 2010.
• 30 people died in drink drive collisions which increased from 10 in 2010.

Source: Department for Transport - Reported drinking and driving: data tables

In 2022, approximately 6,800 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit in Great Britain. 

• The number of people injured or killed on roads where a drive or rider was over the alcohol limit decreased from 9,690 to 6,800 between 2010 and 2022.
• There were 4,620 drink drive collisions which declined from 6,620 in 2010. 
• 300 people died in drink drive collisions which increased from 240 in 2010.

Source: Department for Transport - Reported drinking and driving: data tables

In 2023/24, there were an estimated 440,000 incidents of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in England & Wales

• The victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 39% of all violent incidents.
• The victim believed the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in 45% of all violent incidents with injury and 35% of all violent incidents without injury.
• The proportion of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol declined from 54% in 2009/10 to 39% in 2023/24.

Source: Nature of crime: violence

In 2023/24, there were an estimated 231,000 incidents of violent crime.

• The victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 35% of all violent incidents.
• The proportion of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol declined from 42% in 2016/17 to 35% in 2023/24.

Source: Scottish Crime and Justice Survey

In 2023/24, there were an estimated 15,557 incidents of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol.  

• The victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 35% of all violent incidents.
• The victim believed the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in 48% of all violent incidents with injury and 39% of all violent incidents without injury.
• The proportion of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol declined from 47% in 2012/13 to 35% in 2023/24.

 Source: PSNI: Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland 1998 99 to 2023 24