Booze deaths soaring

DEATHS from booze have shot up by a shocking 20% during the pandemic.

Fatalities caused directly by the misuse of alcohol increased from 5,819 in 2019 to 6,983 in 2020, says Public Health England.

There was also a rapid increase in the number of alcoholic liver deaths, rising by 21% between 2019 and 2020, compared to 3% between 2018 and 2019.

Rosanna O’connor, director of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and justice at PHE, said: “Our research suggests that lockdown has affected heavy drinkers the most and that they are drinking more.

“Liver disease is the second leading cause of premature death in people of working age.

“This is only set to get worse if the pandemic results in a long-term increase in drinking.”

Dr Katherine Severi, from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: “A 20% increase in deaths must be an alarming wake-up call for Government to act.”