North-west alcoholism 'boosting inequality'
Tuesday, 14 Aug 2007 08:21
Alcohol-related deaths are on the rise in the north-west
People living in the north-west are more likely to die from alcohol-related deaths than those who live elsewhere in England, a study claims.
A report prepared by the Association of Public Health Observatories claims binge drinking has continued to increase in the north in the last five years but has fallen away in the south.
It says the number of lives lost to alcohol is increasing at a faster pace in the north-west and links the problem within the region to those living in its most deprived areas.
According to the report, men living in more deprived areas die 50 per cent earlier than those living in more affluent areas.
The report's co-author, Professor Mark Bellis of the Centre for Public Health, said his work "catalogues the real price we are paying for cheap alcohol and a culture where drinking to excess is not only tolerated but often encouraged".
A number of schemes attempting to deal with the problem are currently underway in the north-west.
The Manchester-piloted Best Bar None is currently being rolled out across the region while a public awareness campaign, Psst, is ongoing in Liverpool.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson, for whom the report was prepared, described alcohol misuse as a "major problem" for England which is contributing to regional inequality.