Director of Public Health Annual Report 2019: Alcohol and us
Introduction
Alcohol is widely consumed, legal and widely available and has been part of the social fabric of life for many years in England. However, it also contributes to a wide range of physical and mental health problems, including breast and bowel cancer, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, depression and dementia. From a health perspective there is no “safe” level of alcohol consumption only lower risk drinking. The more people drink, the higher the risk of developing problems. Alcohol is the third leading risk factor for death and disability after smoking and obesity.
Alcohol misuse doesn’t just affect the individual who is drinking too much but impacts on the people around them, including their children and families and the wider community. Alcohol misuse contributes to domestic violence and child abuse, violent crime and road traffic accidents and deaths. The total national annual cost of alcohol to society is £21 billion, including £11bn on alcohol-related crime, £7.3 billion due to lost productivity and £3.5 billion to the NHS.
Key alcohol facts
1 in 4 adults in Buckinghamshire drink more than 14 units a week.
Alcohol is the leading cause of death among 15 to 49 year olds.
Alcohol has 7 calories per gram (second only yo pure fat).
Compared to other age groups, more women aged 55 to 64 and men aged 65 to 74, drink over 14 units a week.
More people in higher income households drink 14 units a week. 35% of men and 19% of women.
1/3 of older people with drinking problems first develop these in later life.
Children and alcohol in Buckinghamshire
22% of children in need assessments had parental alcohol misuse as an identified need (Bucks, 2017/18).
Children should have no alcohol under age 15 according to the Chief Medical Officer.
70% of children and young people get their alcohol from their parents.
Hospital admissions and alcohol in Buckinghamshire
9,046 hospital admissions in 2017/18 had alcohol-related illnesses listed as a factor.
Hospital admissions have increased 27% since 2008/9.
Admission rates in the most deprived fifth of the population are 57% higher.
Hospital admissions for mental health conditions due to alcohol use have doubled since 2008/9.