Alcohol-specific deaths fall to lowest level since 2021

The number of alcohol-specific deaths registered in the UK fell in 2024 to its lowest level in three years, according to the latest figures.

Office for National Statistics data show a total of 9,809 alcohol-specific deaths (those that are a direct consequence of alcohol misuse, such as alcoholic liver disease) were registered in 2024, down from 10,473 in 2023 and the lowest figure recorded since 2021, when 9,641 deaths were reported.

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The rate of alcohol-specific deaths also fell to 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people, down from 15.9 in 2023 and the lowest rate since 2020.

The reduction was mainly driven by falling death rates among people aged between 25 and 79. Rates among those aged 20 to 24 remained broadly unchanged, while death rates among people aged 80 and over increased compared with 2023.

Men continued to account for a disproportionate share of alcohol-specific deaths, with a mortality rate of 20.2 per 100,000 people, compared with 9.7 per 100,000 among women.

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This gap is consistent with previous years, with male death rates remaining around twice those recorded for females.

England and Wales both recorded falls in alcohol-specific mortality. The rate in England fell to 13.8 deaths per 100,000 people, while Wales recorded a rate of 16.8 per 100,000.

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Within England, the North East continued to have the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths, at 21.1 per 100,000 people, while London had the lowest rate, with 10.9 deaths per 100,000.

Scotland and Northern Ireland continued to have the highest rates in the UK, at 20.9 and 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people respectively. This represented a reduction in Scotland compared with 2023, while Northern Ireland’s figure shows an increase.