Dry January: thousands admitted to hospital last year with an alcohol related condition

Alcohol poisoning, liver cancer, heart disease, tremors — alcohol misuse can cause a myriad of health problems.

Exacerbated by the lockdown and the Christmas period, many of us will be guilty of drinking a bit more than normal too.

Now with Covid-19 putting an unprecedented strain upon hospitals, health experts are urging drinkers to cut back on the booze this year and reduce the risks to their health and well being.

When drinking becomes a problem

Analysis by the JPIMedia Data Unit reveals every region in England saw a rise in the number of alcohol related hospital admissions between 2014/15 and 2018/19. 

Figures from Public Health England show there were over 350,000 hospital admissions in 2018/19 — the equivalent of nearly 7,000 every week.

Despite tougher restrictions on alcohol sales, including minimum pricing, hospitals in Scotland are also treating thousands of patients with alcohol related conditions.

The latest figures from Public Health Scotland show over 23,000 patients were admitted to hospital with an alcohol related condition in 2019/20. That number has remained relatively stable over the last five years.

In Northern Ireland there were more than 2,500 hospital admissions with an alcohol related condition in 2019/20. There has been a 4.1% drop in the number of admissions since 2015/16.

Why you should cut back on booze

Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Change UK, said hospital admissions related to alcohol “continue to remain far too high”. 

“Many of us are finding ourselves drinking more heavily and more often than we would like as we try to cope with the many challenges thrown up this year by Covid-19 and it’s vital that those of us who need specialist support can easily access it,” he said.

“For some of us, taking an extended break from drinking, like having a Dry January can be a good way to reset our relationship with alcohol, particularly if our drinking has been creeping up.”

Rosanna O’Connor, director of drugs, alcohol and tobacco at Public Health England added that cutting down on drinking can reduce health risks.

Ms O’Connor said: “About 10 million people in England are drinking in ways that increase the risks and many are looking to cut down. Setting yourself a target of having more drink-free days every week is an easy way to drink less and reduce the risks to your health.”

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Department of Health added that alcohol related harm costs over £900 million each year. 

“There are differences in alcohol related hospital admissions across the Health and Social Care Trusts, and this can be related to levels of deprivation in these areas along with other risk factors,” they said.

“However, alcohol related harm is a factor right across Northern Ireland.

“Addressing this issue is a key priority for the Department of Health, and the Department is currently leading on a consultation on a new substance use strategy for Northern Ireland.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson acknowledged that Scotland experiences high levels of alcohol related harm and that the level of the minimum unit pricing at 50 pence per unit continues to remain under review.