Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the leading modifiable health-related behaviours that contributes to non-communicable diseases and is associated with both short- and longer-term health-related problems.[1] It has been identified as a causal factor in over 60 medical conditions and is the leading risk factor for ill health in individuals aged 15 to 49.[2] Acute, instant harms of alcohol include impaired judgement which may result in physical injury (intentional or unintentional), loss of consciousness, suffocation, and potentially fatal poisoning. Longer-term health conditions associated with alcohol include cancer, liver disease and cardiovascular disease.[3] Alcohol has a number of wider effects and presents social issues within the community including crime, domestic abuse and participation in risky behaviours.

The annual cost to society from alcohol is estimated to be £21 billion in England. Alcohol has the second highest impact on the National Health Service (NHS) after poor diet, resulting in £3.5 billion of NHS costs[4], of which a third is due to alcohol-related hospital admissions[5]. It is thought that the costs to the NHS could increase to £17 billion over the next 5 years, if consumption patterns don’t change.4 In North Tyneside, this total cost is estimated to be £99.3 million, with 23% of this being due to health. This equated to £23.3 million each year in NHS costs due to alcohol harm in North Tyneside residents.

It is important to note that whilst there are significant issues arising from alcohol misuse and dependence, most people who drink alcohol do so in moderation and at levels of low-risk harm to their health.

Guidance by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) from January 2016 indicates that adults should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis and that those drinking as much as this should spread the drinking out evenly over at least three days as well as having alcohol-free days.[6]

The Government’s National Alcohol Strategy was first published in 2004 and has since been updated in 2007 and again in 2012. The strategy focuses on preventing alcohol-related harm by reducing the number of people drinking to excess and making “less risky” drinking the norm, both through local and national action. This is expected to reduce the impacts of alcohol on health, crime, and other areas.[1]

There are two terms that are often used as definitions for alcohol data. 

Alcohol-specific conditions are a direct consequence of alcohol misuse, such as alcohol poisoning and alcoholic liver disease. 

Alcohol-related conditions are not a direct consequence of alcohol misuse but for which alcohol has been linked as a causal factor.

For this needs assessment alcohol-specific data has been used, with the exception of alcohol and morbidity, where it refers to alcohol-related conditions. This section looks at the wider conditions that alcohol is a causal factor. 

[1] HM Government. The Government’s Alcohol Strategy. March 2012. Available from: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2023-0003/CDP-2023-0003.pdf
[1] Scarborough, Peter et al. “The economic burden of ill health due to diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol and obesity in the UK: an update to 2006-07 NHS costs.” Journal of Public Health. 2011.; 33(4): 527-35. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdr033.
[2] Office for Health Improvement & Disparities. Fingertips: Local Alcohol Profiles for England. Available from: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/local-alcohol-profiles [Accessed 1st April 2025].
[3] Barclay GA, Barbour J, Stewart S, Day CP, Gilvarry E. Adverse physical effects of alcohol misuse. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. Cambridge University Press; 2008;14(2):139–51.
[4] Institute of Alcohol Studies. Drugs, Alcohol & Justice Cross-Party Parliamentary Group and APPG on Alcohol Harm. Alcohol Charter. 2019. Available from: https://www.ias.org.uk/uploads/pdf/Alcohol%20Charter%20Digital.pdf
[5] Public Health England. Local Health and Care Planning: Menu of preventative interventions. November 2016. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-health-and-care-planning-menu-of-preventative-interventions
[6] GOV.UK. Alcohol consumption: advice on low-risk drinking. 25th August 2016. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-consumption-advice-on-low-risk-drinking