Millions are boozing more during the pandemic
Concerns have been raised over alarming new figures which show people are drinking more during the pandemic.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ new analysis of Public Health England’s latest data on the indirect effects of COVID-19 found more than 8.4million people are now drinking at higher risk, up from just 4.8million in February.
The college is warning that addiction services in England are not equipped to treat the soaring numbers of people drinking at high risk during the pandemic and must receive a multi-million-pound funding boost in the upcoming spending review.
A major survey in the
North East in April found 26 per cent of North East drinkers were drinking more since lockdown. And while 37 per cent had cut down or stopped, it was the heaviest drinkers who were drinking more.
Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, said: “This is incredibly worrying and suggests our nation’s drinking problem could be getting worse.
"We have seen reports of people stockpiling alcohol and while some people are cutting down, for others their long-term habits may be turning into addictions which will harm their health and affect the people around them.
“Times are tough and many of us are anxious but using alcohol to cope is not the answer. In the short-term alcohol can harm our immune system, cause weight gain and can make us feel more tired and depressed, and in the longer term it can raise our risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke.
“As a nation, and as a region, alcohol is not just harming individuals but the families and communities around them.”