Consequences of Alcohol Consumption in the UK

In 2022, 7% of adults were high risk or possible dependent drinkers (AUDIT).

• The proportion of high risk and possible dependent drinkers increased from 6% in 2021.
• 4% of adults were possible dependent drinkers.
• Males were more likely to be possible dependent drinkers than females (5% vs 3%).

Source: Drinkaware Monitor (2022).

In 2022, 7% of adults were high risk or possible dependent drinkers (AUDIT).

• The proportion of high risk and possible dependent drinkers increased from 5% in 2021.
• 3% of adults were possible dependent drinkers.
• Males were more likely to be possible dependent drinkers than females (3% vs 2%).

Source: Drinkaware Monitor (2022).

In 2022, 6% of adults were high risk or possible dependent drinkers (AUDIT).

• The proportion of high risk and possible dependent drinkers increased from 5% in 2021.
• 3% of adults were possible dependent drinkers.
• Males were more likely to be possible dependent drinkers than females (5% vs 2%).

Source: Drinkaware Monitor (2022).

In 2022, 8% of adults were high risk or possible dependent drinkers (AUDIT).

• The proportion of high risk and possible dependent drinkers remained stable from 2021.
• 5% of adults were possible dependent drinkers.
• Males were more likely to be possible dependent drinkers than females (7% vs 2%).

Source: Drinkaware Monitor (2022).

 In 2020/21, 80% of dependent drinkers were not receiving treatment.

• There were an estimated 107,428 people in treatment for alcohol which is a 2.4% increase from 2019/20.
• There were an estimated 65,722 males and 41,706 females in treatment for alcohol in 2020/21.
• 62% of people who started treatment for alcohol only completed treatment successfully as did 55% who started treatment for non-opiates and alcohol.

Source: Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021

In 2020/21, there were 7,539 people beginning treatment for alcohol.

• The number of people starting treatment for alcohol decreased by 5% from 2019/20.
• Males were more likely to be starting treatment for alcohol compared to females (61% vs 39%).
• The age group which was most likely to be starting treatment for alcohol was 30-39 year olds (27%).

Source: Treatment Data – Substance Misuse in Wales

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

• The number of ABIs delivered decreased from 80,575 in 2018/19.
• The number of ABIs delivered was 23.8% more than the minimum number set out in the Local Delivery Plan (LDP) standard.
• Most ABIs were delivered in priority settings such as primary care (52.7%), Accident & Emergency departments (12.4%) and antenatal settings (2.2%). 32.8% were delivered in wider settings.

Source: Alcohol Brief Interventions

In 2019, approximately 6,743 people were in treatment for alcohol misuse and/or drugs.

• The number of people in treatment for alcohol increased from 5,846 in 2010.
• The proportion of people in treatment for alcohol only was lower than in 2010 (38% vs 57%).
• The proportion of people in treatment for both drugs and alcohol was higher than in 2010 (30% vs 21%).

Source: Extent of Substance Use and Misuse in Northern Ireland 

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

• In 2020/21, there were an estimated 814,595 admissions related to alcohol consumption which decreased by 17% from 2017/18.
• The rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions decreased from 1,815 (per 100,000) in 2019/20 to 1,500 in 2020/21.
• Males were more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions compared to females (72% vs 28%).

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

• In 2020/21, there were an estimated 247,972 alcohol-related hospital admissions where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol.
• The rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol decreased from 359 (per 100,000) in 2019/20 to 322 in 2020/21.
• Males were more likely to be admitted to hospital when the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol compared to females (64% vs 36%).

Source: Local Alcohol Profiles for England

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

• In 2020/21, there were an estimated 44,922 admissions related to alcohol consumption which decreased by 21% from 2019/20.
• The rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions decreased from 1,808 (per 100,000) in 2019/20 to 1,391 in 2020/21.
• Males were more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions compared to females (65% vs 35%).

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

• In 2020/21, there were an estimated 13,124 alcohol-related hospital admissions where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol.
• The rate of admissions for alcohol-related conditions where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol decreased from 553 (per 100,000) in 2019/20 to 444 in 2020/21.
• Males were more likely to be admitted to hospital when the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol compared to females (65% vs 35%).

Source: Health Maps Wales; Data Mining Wales

In 2020/21, there were an estimated 35,124 admissions related to alcohol consumption which decreased by 10% from 2019/20.

• Most alcohol-related hospital admissions were treated in general acute hospitals (94%) and 6% occurred in psychiatric hospitals.
• The rate of alcohol-related admissions decreased from 730 (per 100,000) in 2019/20 to 653 in 2020/21.
• Males were more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions compared to females (65% vs 35%).

Source: Public Health Scotland - Alcohol related hospital statistics

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

• In 2019/20, there were an estimated 12,086 admissions to hospital for alcohol-related conditions which has decreased by 4% from 2018/19.
• In 2019/20, males were more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions compared to females (71% vs 29%).

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

• In 2019/20, there were an estimated 4,192 admissions to hospital where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol.
• In 2019/20, 3,092 males were admitted to hospital where the main reason for admission was attributable to alcohol compared to 1,100 females. 

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

In 2021, there were 7,558 alcohol-specific deaths.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 13.9 per 100,000 people which increased from 13.0 in 2020.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males was almost double the rate for females (18.6 and 9.4 respectively).
• Alcohol-specific deaths were highest among males and females aged 55 to 59.
• 6,060 deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

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

In 2021, there were 472 alcohol-specific deaths.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 15.0 per 100,000 people which increased from 13.9 in 2020.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males was more than double the rate for females (21.1 and 9.2 respectively).
• Alcohol-specific deaths were highest among males and females aged 55 to 59.
• 406 deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

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

In 2021, there were 1,245 alcohol-specific deaths.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 22.4 per 100,000 people which increased from 21.5 in 2020.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males was more than double the rate for females (31.4 and 14.1 respectively).
• Alcohol-specific deaths were highest among males and females aged 55 to 59.
• 795 deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

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

In 2021, there were 351 alcohol-specific deaths.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 19.3 per 100,000 people which decreased from 19.6 in 2020.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males was almost double the rate for females (25.6 and 13.4 respectively).
• Alcohol-specific deaths were highest among males and females aged 55 to 59.
• 245 deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

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

In 2021, there were 9,641 alcohol-specific deaths.

• The alcohol-specific death rate was 14.8 per 100,000 people which increased from 14.0 in 2020.
• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males was more than double the rate for females (20.1 and 9.9 respectively).
• Alcohol-specific deaths were highest among males and females aged 55 to 59.
• 7,518 deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

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

In 2020, there were an estimated 525,000 incidents of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol.

• The victim believed the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in 42% of all violent incidents.
• Victims of violent crime were more likely to believe the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in violent incidents with injury than violent incidents without injury (49% vs 36%).
• The proportion of violent crime linked to alcohol was the highest since 2014/15 (42%).

Source: Office for National Statistics - Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2020

In 2019/20, there were an estimated 194,000 incidents of violent crime.

• The victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol in 44% of all violent incidents.
• The proportion of violent crimes involving offenders under the influence of alcohol decreased from 59% in 2018/19.
• 1 in 5 victims reported having consumed alcohol immediately before the violent incident (20%).

Source: Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019/20: main findings

In 2020/21, there were an estimated 11,797 incidents of violent crime where the victim believed the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol.  

• The victim believed the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in 30% of all violent incidents.
• Victims of violent crime were more likely to believe the offender(s) was under the influence of alcohol in violent incidents with injury than violent incidents without injury (45% vs 36%).
• The proportion of violent crime linked to alcohol decreased from 47% in 2012/13.

Source: PSNI: Police recorded crime Annual Trends 1998/99 to 2020/21 (published 19 November 2021)

In 2020, approximately 5,920 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit.

• This was a 16% decrease from 2019 and was the lowest figure recorded in the last 10 years.
• Around 200 people were killed in drink drive collisions which was no change from 2019.
• There were 4,220 drink drive collisions in 2020 which was a 13% decrease from 2019.

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

In 2020, approximately 310 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit.

• This was a 23% decrease from 2019 and was the lowest figure recorded in the last 10 years.
• Around 10 people were killed in drink drive collisions which was no change from 2019.
• There were 210 drink drive collisions in 2020 which was a 28% decrease from 2019.

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

In 2020, approximately 250 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit.

• This was a 29% decrease from 2019 and was the lowest figure recorded in the last 10 years.
• Around 20 people were killed in drink drive collisions which was no change from 2019.
• There were 190 drink drive collisions in 2020 which was a 17% decrease from 2019.

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

In 2020, approximately 6,480 people were injured or killed on roads where a driver or rider was over the alcohol limit.

• This was a 17% decrease from 2019 and was the lowest figure recorded.
• Around 220 people were killed in drink drive collisions which was a 4% decrease from 2019.
• There were 4,620 drink drive collisions which was a 14% decrease from 2019.

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