Alcohol-related deaths in the UK: registered in 2012

Deaths in the UK that are known to be direct consequences of alcohol misuse, such as alcoholic liver disease.

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Contact:
Email Olugbenga Olatunde

Release date:
19 February 2014

Next release:
11 February 2015

2. Summary

This bulletin presents the latest figures for alcohol-related deaths in the UK, its four constituent countries and regions of England. Comparisons are made between 2012, the latest year, and previously published data from 2002 onwards.

Figures are based on deaths registered in each calendar year rather than those occurring in each year. Since the majority of alcohol-related deaths registered in 2012 also occurred in the same year, registration delays are likely to have no impact on the findings in this bulletin. Please see the section on registration delays for further information.

ONS recently revised mid-2002 to 2010 population estimates in light of the 2011 Census. Death rates relating to this period have therefore been revised and may differ from previously published figures. In the previous release, ‘Alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom, 2011’ UK rates were based on a combination of the 2011 Census population estimates for England and Wales and rolled forward mid-year population estimates (from the 2001 Census) for Scotland and Northern Ireland. These rates have now been rebased on 2011 Census populations for each UK constituent country.

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3. Context

Alcohol is a potentially addictive psychoactive substance. It is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, and its effects on brain function – such as slowed reaction times and loss of inhibition – are felt very quickly. The human body cannot store alcohol; it treats it as a potential poison and detoxifies it in the liver. The speed at which this happens depends on a variety of factors including age and sex (FPH, 2008).

Since alcohol cannot be stored, it is potentially harmful to the liver which is responsible for breaking it down and eliminating it from the body. The harmful effects of alcohol can be acute (immediate) or chronic (longer-term) with these effects being dependent to a large extent on drinking behaviour. Some of the acute effects include alcohol-related accidents and injuries, suicides and violent crime while liver cirrhosis, heart disease and certain types of cancer are associated with long term misuse of alcohol.

Although drinking alcohol is a part of the culture in many societies and a common feature in social gatherings and many people use it sensibly, its misuse has become a serious and worsening public health problem in recent years (FPH, 2008; WHO, 2014a). The harmful use of alcohol results in 2.5 million deaths each year worldwide (WHO, 2014b) with over 8,000 deaths occurring in the UK in each of the last ten years.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is a major preventable cause of premature mortality with alcohol-related deaths accounting for 1.4% of all deaths in England and Wales in 2012. There is therefore widespread policy, professional and public interest in the prevalence of alcohol-related deaths in the UK. The main users of these statistics include the Department of Health and other devolved health administrations, public health observatories and local governments. The figures on alcohol-related deaths are used to monitor and develop policies to protect the health of the public. In November 2010, the government published a White Paper titled ‘Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England’ (Department of Health, 2010) which outlines the government’s commitment to protecting the population from serious health threats and helping people to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Among other lifestyle and behavioural factors, the paper highlights the harmful effects of alcohol abuse and the associated cost to the NHS. This White Paper led to the Home Office’s Alcohol Strategy (2012) which introduced a minimum unit price for alcohol and initiated a consultation on banning multi-buy alcohol discounting in order to reduce the number of people drinking to damaging levels.

Non-government users include charitable organisations such as Drinkaware, and Addaction. These organisations use the statistics to educate people about the risks associated with alcohol consumption, to target support services to vulnerable groups and to inform public opinion and policy. Many of these organisations have also signed up as partners to the government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal (Department of Health, 2014) in which public, private and voluntary organisations sign-up and work collaboratively to address key public health issues, including alcohol abuse. Academics and researchers also use the statistics to investigate the causes and the impact of alcohol-related deaths.

The statistics are also used by local and national media to report on geographical and time trends in alcohol-related deaths and to comment on the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of government policies and are of great interest to the general public.

This statistical bulletin presents figures for the UK, its constituent countries and English Regions. Statistics for Scotland are also published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) while data for Northern Ireland are published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

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4. Comparison of age-specific rates in the United Kingdom

Age-standardised rates enable the comparison of trends in alcohol-related deaths over time because they take into account differences in the age structure of the populations being compared. However, as these rates are overall rates, they are not useful in comparing age groups within or across populations. In contrast, age-specific rates allow these comparisons to be made. Data presented in this section are for 2012 only. Rates were not calculated where there were three or fewer deaths in an age group.

In 2012, age-specific alcohol-related death rates for males rose steadily from 0.3 per 100,000 population among those aged 20-24 to a peak of 42.6 per 100,000 at age 60-64 years. The rates fell in subsequent age groups to 19.7 per 100,000 among those aged 85 years and over.

For females, the death rate for those aged 20-24 years was similar to that for males in this age group. However, the disparity between male and female death rates become more evident beyond this age group, with rates among males approximately twice those for females in each age group. Female rates rose steadily to a peak of 22.2 per 100,000 among those aged 55-59 years before dropping off gradually to 10.3 per 100,000 among those aged 85 years and over.

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6. England

The trend in the annual number of deaths from alcohol related causes in England was similar to that in the UK. The number of deaths rose from 2002, peaking in 2008 and 2007 for males and females respectively before generally falling to date.

For males, the number of deaths in 2012 stood at 4,232, a 6% decrease on the previous year. Annual fluctuations have meant that rates increased and decreased significantly between some years over the period 2002–12. Rates increased significantly from 14.3 per 100, 000 population in 2002 to a peak of 16.6 per 100, 000 in 2008 before falling significantly for the first time since then in 2012 (14.7 per 100, 000).

For females, the number of alcohol-related deaths fell by only 0.4% on the previous year from 2,272 in 2011 to 2,263 in 2012. Although this relatively small decrease meant that the death rates for these two years were not significantly different, the latest figure represents the first significant decrease in rates since 2007.

Despite the latest figures showing a significant improvement in rates for males and females since peaking in 2008 and 2007 respectively, the 2012 figures were still comparable to those observed in 2002.

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7. Regions of England

Alcohol-related death rates varied significantly by English region and sex.

For males, the rate in 2012 was lowest in the East of England at 10.2 per 100,000 population and highest in the North West (20.7 per 100,000). These regions also had the lowest and highest number of deaths respectively, with the North West having more than twice the number of deaths in the East of England (792 compared with 344).

In addition, the North West had the highest male death rate in ten of the last eleven years. Although rates in this region increased significantly from 19.3 per 100,000 in 2002 to 23.4 per 100,000 in 2007 they have remained stable to date. Rates were lowest in the East of England in the majority of years in the period 2002–12. However, the trend over time in this region was also characterised by an initial significant increase in rates to a peak of 12.5 per 100,000 population in 2008 and then a significant decrease in 2012 (10.2 per 100,000).

The rates for females also tended to be highest in the North West and lowest in the East of England over the period. However, in the last two years rates have been lowest in London, standing at 5.5 per 100,000 in 2012.

Compared with 2002, there was a significant change in death rates in only two regions for males (Yorkshire and the Humber and London) and in one for females (London) in 2012. Furthermore, in all regions, the rates in 2012 did not change significantly compared with the previous year.

The regional differences observed in alcohol-related deaths are likely to have largely resulted from regional differences in drinking habits in the past. Consumption data from the OPN (ONS, 2013) showed that the highest proportion of binge drinkers were in the North West (15%) and the lowest in London (8%). In addition, the North West (18%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (19%) were the regions with the highest proportion of heavy drinkers while the East of England had the lowest proportion (10%).

The geographic variation in alcohol-related deaths rates has been well documented in previous research. For example, Breakwell et al. (2007) (2.95 Mb Pdf) reported a strong association in alcohol-related deaths with death rates being higher among those living in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England and Wales. Similarly, Siegler et al. (2011) (353.9 Kb Pdf) demonstrated that alcohol-related deaths varied by socio-economic class with higher death rates in those in the most disadvantaged classes. Erskine et al. (2010) supported these findings and reported a higher risk of alcohol-related deaths in urban areas than rural areas, after accounting for socio-economic status.

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8. Wales

In 2012, alcohol-related death rates were significantly higher in Wales than in England; 18.0 per 100,000 population compared with 14.7 per 100,000 respectively. The rate for males in Wales increased significantly between 2002 and 2007 but has remained stable to date. However, the relatively wide confidence intervals meant that the rate in 2012 was not significantly higher than in 2002.

Similarly, the death rate for females in Wales was significantly higher than in England in 2012 (10.4 compared with 7.3 per 100,000 population respectively). For females in Wales rates increased significantly from 7.3 per 100,000 in 2002 to 10.4 per 100,000 in 2012, despite fluctuations in rates within this period.

Overall, the number of alcohol-related deaths in Wales increased between 2002 and 2012 for both sexes; however, the percentage increase was greater for females than for males. While the number of deaths for males increased by 24% from 236 in 2002 to 311 in 2012, the corresponding increase for females was 34% from 127 to 193 deaths.

Although the proportion of adults who drink was shown to be higher in England than in Wales, (ONS, 2013), the drinking habits in both countries were somewhat different. While the proportion of adults who binge drink in England and Wales were similar (12% and 11% respectively) there was a higher proportion of heavy drinkers in Wales than in England (16% compared with 13% respectively).

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10. Registration delays

The information used to produce mortality statistics is based on the details collected when deaths are certified and registered. In England and Wales, deaths should be registered within five days of the death occurring, but there are some situations which result in the registration of the death being delayed. Deaths considered unexpected, accidental or suspicious will be referred to a coroner who may order a post mortem or carry out a full inquest to ascertain the reasons for the death.

Alcohol-related death statistics are presented based on the number of deaths registered in each calendar year, rather than the number of deaths that actually occurred in that year. This method is used because there is a requirement for consistent and timely data, despite a potential limitation in data quality caused by registration delays.

In 2012, fewer alcohol-related deaths were registered within five days than deaths from all causes (61% compared with approximately 76% respectively). On average, the median registration period for alcohol-related deaths was 4 days, with a range of 0 to 2026 days. The majority (83%) of deaths were registered within one month while a small proportion (4.9%) was delayed by six months or more.

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11. Definition

The National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption, as shown in Box 1 below. It does not include other diseases where alcohol has been shown to have some causal relationship, such as cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and liver. The definition includes all deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (excluding biliary cirrhosis), even when alcohol is not specifically mentioned on the death certificate. Apart from deaths due to poisoning with alcohol (accidental, intentional or undetermined), this definition excludes any other external causes of death, such as road traffic and other accidents. The definition allows for consistent comparisons over time for those deaths most clearly associated with alcohol consumption.

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12. Results on the Office for National Statistics website

Figures for alcohol-related deaths for the UK, England, Wales and regions of England can be found in Microsoft Excel workbooks on the Office for National Statistics website at:

The two workbooks contain:

  • Results for the UK – age-standardised rates per 100,000 (with 95% confidence intervals) and numbers of alcohol-related deaths for the period 1991 to 2012. Figures are available split by sex and broad age groups (All ages, 1¬-14, 15-34, 35-54, 55-74 and 75 and over)

  • Results for England and Wales – age-standardised rates per 100,000 (with 95% confidence intervals) and numbers of alcohol-related deaths for England and Wales, England, Wales and regions of England for the period 1991-2012. Figures are available split by sex and broad age groups (All ages, 1-14, 15-34, 35-54, 55-74 and 75 and over; figures presented by sex only for regions of England)

Statistics for Scotland, published by National Records of Scotland and statistics for Northern Ireland, published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are available in the links below.

Scotland

Northern Ireland

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13 .References

Breakwell C, Baker A, Griffiths C, Jackson G, Fegan G and Marshall D (2007) Trends and geographical variations in alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom, 1991-2004. Health Statistics Quarterly 33, 6-22. (2.95 Mb Pdf)

Department of Health (2010) Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England

Department of Health (2014) Public Health Responsibility Deal.

Erskine, S., Maheswaran, R., Pearson, T. & Gleeson, D. (2010) Socioeconomic deprivation, urban-rural location and alcohol-related mortality in England and Wales. BMC Public Health, 10:99

Faculty of Public Health (2008) Alcohol and Public Health. Position statement

Home Office (2012) Alcohol Strategy.

ONS (2013) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Drinking Habits Amongst Adults, 2012.

Siegler V, Al-Hamad A, Johnson B And Wells C (2011) Social inequalities in alcohol-related adult mortality by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, England and Wales, 2001-03. Health Statistics Quarterly 50. (353.9 Kb Pdf)

World Health Organisation (2014a) [Health Topics – Alcohol]9http://www.who.int/topics/alcohol_drinking/en/ "Health Topics – Alcohol").

World Health Organisation (2014b) Alcohol factsheet

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14 .Background notes

  1. Statistics on mortality are derived from the information provided when deaths are certified and registered. Further information about the methods and quality of these statistics can be found in the Quality and Methodology Report (382.3 Kb Pdf).

  2. In England and Wales, deaths should be registered within five days of the death occurring, but there are some situations which result in the registration of the death being delayed, for instance if a death is considered unexpected, accidental or suspicious. In 2012 the average number of days between date of death and death registration was four days for alcohol-related causes. Further information on the impact of registration delays on data quality is available.

  3. ONS holds mortality data for England and Wales. Figures for the UK include data kindly provided by National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

  4. The tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was introduced in Scotland in 2000 and in England and Wales and Northern Ireland in 2001.

  5. The introduction of ICD-10 in England and Wales in 2001 had a significant effect on mortality rates for some diseases, causing a discontinuity in mortality trends for these causes of death. However, the change resulted in a difference of less than 1% in the number of deaths from alcohol-related causes.

  6. Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

  7. This bulletin presents age-standardised rates calculated using the direct method of standardisation while the 1976 European Standard Population was used as the standard. These make allowances for differences in the age structure of the population, over time and between sexes. The age-standardised rate for a particular cause of death is that which would have occurred if the observed age-specific rates for that cause had applied in the given standard population.

  8. Mid 2002–10 population estimates have been revised in light of the 2011 Census for each UK constituent country. UK rates for this period have therefore been rebased on these revised population estimates and may differ from previously published figures for the period.

  9. Within this bulletin, a difference which is described as ‘statistically significant’ has been assessed using 95% confidence intervals. If a difference is said to be statistically significant, it is unlikely that it could have occurred by chance alone. Confidence intervals give a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around an estimate overlaps with the interval around another, there is no significant difference between the two estimates.

  10. Alcohol-related death rates included in this bulletin are presented with 95% confidence intervals in the reference tables [link] accompanying this release.

  11. Special extracts and tabulations of alcohol-related death (and other causes of mortality) data for England and Wales are available to order for a charge (subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and agreement of costs, where appropriate). Such requests or enquiries should be made to:

    Mortality Analysis Team, Life Events and Population Sources Division
    Office for National Statistics
    Government Buildings
    Cardiff Road
    Newport
    Gwent NP10 8XG

    Tel: 01633 456736
    E-mail: mortality@ons.gov.uk.

    The ONS charging policy is available on the ONS website.

  12. As a valued user of our statistics, we would welcome feedback on this release. In particular, the content, format and structure. Please send feedback to the postal or e-mail address above.

  13. Details of the policy governing the release of new data are available from the Media Relations Office.

  14. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

  15. Details of the policy governing the release of new data are available by visiting www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/index.html or from the Media Relations Office email: media.relations@ons.gov.uk

    These National Statistics are produced to high professional standards and released according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

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15 . Methodology

Contact details for this Statistical bulletin

Olugbenga Olatunde
mortality@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1633 456491