Alcohol deaths up a fifth to record level during lockdown
The number of deaths in England and Wales linked to alcohol increased by almost 20 per cent last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. There were 7423 deaths from alcohol-specific causes, compared with 6209 in 2019. It is the highest annual total since comparable records began in 2001. Experts said the increase could reflect people drinking more during lockdown, with fatal consequences for those already consuming excessive amounts. Fear of picking up coronavirus in hospital may also have stopped people seeking help in emergencies, they added, while support services for those struggling with addiction became harder to access.