Collective Voice calls on Government to prioritise reducing harm from alcohol

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Every one of these deaths is a tragedy – and we should be doing more as a society to prevent them. The Government should develop a specific alcohol strategy.

Today the Office for National Statistics has released the latest data on deaths caused by diseases known to be a direct consequence of alcohol. The data cover 2023, and confirm a worrying picture. There were 10,473 deaths specifically attributable to alcohol in 2023 across the UK. While the death rate remained relatively steady for over a decade from 2006 to 2019, the rise we have seen in England since the pandemic has continued, such that the mortality rate is now 50% higher than it was in 2012.

Executive Director of Collective Voice, Dr Will Haydock, released the following statement:

Treatment works to reduce harm from alcohol

Every one of these deaths is a tragedy – and we should be doing more as a society to prevent them. We know that effective, evidence-based support can help people make changes and turn their lives around, benefitting not just themselves but their friends, family and the wider community.

Charities have shown they can deliver real impact when Government provides the necessary leadership and investment. With strategic focus and investment from Government, we are now supporting more people in treatment for issues with alcohol or other drugs than at any point since 2009-10.

To maintain and build on this work, the Government must re-state its long-term commitment to substance use treatment and recovery services. But we can and should be doing more.

Government should develop an alcohol strategy

We are now calling on the Government to reduce harm from alcohol by learning from the approach taken with other drugs. Fully supporting people who have issues with alcohol – and preventing people from developing these problems in the first place – requires a whole range of organisations and government departments to pull together as one.

The best way to do this is for the Government to develop a specific Alcohol Strategy that identifies priorities and responsibilities, and allocates the necessary resources to deliver real change. Reducing and preventing alcohol-related harm must be seen as a priority across education and healthcare, and we must address how the availability and marketing of alcohol affects levels of harm.

We look forward to seeing the serious harm caused by alcohol acknowledged in the Government’s 10-year health plan, and investment allocated to tackle this national challenge in the Spending Review.

Help is available in your local community

Our member charities provide support services across the country, so help is available in every local community free at the point of use, so if you need support yourself, or you’re worried about someone you love, then please do get in touch with your local service. You are not alone. Thousands of people like you are already accessing support across the country. Just search at: https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you

For more detail on how England’s treatment and recovery system can be improved, take a look at our recent consultation submissions on the Autumn spending review and the proposed 10-year plan for health.

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Collective Voice is the national charity working to improve England’s drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems