Key points from article :
A new study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals a troubling and persistent rise in alcohol-related deaths in England since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic—an issue researchers describe as an “acute crisis.” Led by Dr Melissa Oldham from the University of Sheffield, with contributions from University College London (UCL), the study found that after a decade of stable alcohol death rates, there was a 20% increase in 2020, followed by a further 13.5% rise between 2020 and 2022.
The research, based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), estimates that 3,911 more people died solely due to alcohol between 2020 and 2022 than would have been expected if pre-pandemic trends had continued. In 2023, the total number of alcohol-specific deaths reached 8,274. The main driver of these deaths was alcohol-related liver damage.
The impact has been most severe among men, individuals aged 50 to 69, and those living in deprived communities—groups already at higher risk before the pandemic. Senior author Professor Colin Angus noted that the rising death toll is deepening existing health inequalities, with men twice as likely to die from alcohol-related causes as women, and significantly higher death rates in poorer areas.
While the exact causes of increased alcohol consumption remain unclear, researchers point to possible factors such as pandemic-related habit changes, the cost of living crisis, and worsening mental health. The authors call for urgent investment in health services, especially those targeting early detection and treatment of liver disease, to address this growing public health emergency.
