Battle to cut toll of over-50s being killed by booze
ALCOHOL-RELATED deaths are highest among over-50s, figures show.
There were 7,697 deaths last year due to health conditions directly caused by alcohol misuse, such as liver disease and pancreatitis.
The rates were highest among women aged 55 to 59 and men aged 60 to 64, data from the Office for National Statistics shows.
Karen Tyrell, executive director of alcohol charity Addaction, said: “We know alcohol is an issue for over50s and we need to do a lot more to reach this group in a way that works for them.
“For older drinkers, alcohol often creeps up and gradually plays a more central role in day-to-day life.
“The people we work with frequently talk about alcohol as a way to deal with loneliness, isolation and the sense of loss that sometimes comes with retirement and moving into a new phase of life.”
The alcohol-specific death rate among women has reached the highest level since records began in 2001, at eight per 100,000 females.
But men remained more than twice as likely to die from alcohol-related conditions, at 16.8 deaths per 100,000. Scotland had the highest death rate in the UK, at 20.5 deaths per 100,000 people. But it was the only UK country to see a decrease in rates since 2001, down by 21 per cent. In Northern Ireland, the death rate rose by 40 per cent over the same period.
Ms Tyrell added: “The good news is that everyone can change their relationship with alcohol. Thousands of us do it every month. If you need help or support, reach out.”
Public Health England yesterday announced an extra £10million of funding to help to improve the lives of those impacted by alcohol abuse.
Nine projects working with families will share a £4.5million “innovation fund” and local authorities can apply for a share of £6million to improve access to alcohol treatment.
Chief executive Duncan Selbie said: “There are about 200,000 children whose lives are often torn apart from living with a parent with alcohol problems. Many children in this position suffer in silence. The funds awarded to these councils will help them to identify those children sooner and offer them a vital lifeline.”