Booze link to 1,000 fatal cases of cancer

Alcohol a factor in deaths of ten people every day

THE bleak toll of Scotland’s booze habit is laid bare today in a damning NHS report.

It found that alcohol was a factor in more than 3,700 deaths in a single year – more than ten a day.

According to the NHS Health Scotland study, drink had a role in more than 1,000 deaths from cancer in 2015. Hundreds more died from conditions such as liver disease and accidental injuries.

Official figures show there were 1,150 alcohol-related deaths in 2015 – but these are based on alcohol as the underlying cause of death, while the new study looked at all cases where alcohol was a contributing factor.

The public health organisation examined death rates and hospital admissions caused by alcohol consumption in that year.

The analysis also looked at what people were dying from, and the alcohol-related conditions making them ill.

It found that alcohol contributed to 3,705 deaths in 2015.

A total of 1,048 deaths were from cancer, with 812 from liver disease and pancreatitis.

Other fatal conditions linked to drink were heart conditions, strokes, pneumonia, and unintentional injuries such as falls.

Some 41,161 people were admitted to hospital due to alcohol in 2015, with accidental injuries accounting for more than a quarter of that total – 11,068.

Mental ill health and behavioural disorders were the next most common reasons, with 8,509 admissions.

Elaine Tod, public health intelligence adviser at NHS Health Scotland, said alcohol had ‘contributed to over 100,000 years of life lost due to early death or living in poor health in 2015’.

She added: ‘Preventative action is necessary if Scotland is to make long-term reductions in alcoholrelated harm.’

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, said: ‘Alcohol is linked to seven types of cancer, including breast and bowel cancer, and the more you drink the greater your risk.’

The Scottish Government is introducing minimum pricing for alcohol in May as part of its efforts to reduce alcohol misuse.

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘Our Framework for Action outlines more than 40 measures to reduce alcoholrelated harm, including the quantity discount ban, a ban on irresponsible promotions, a lower drink-drive limit and our alcohol brief intervention programme.’

‘100,000 years of life lost’