Alcohol deaths in young women on rise

Deaths in young women from alcohol-related disease are rising, a study says. Experts study about deaths in men and women of all ages in Glasgow, Liverpooland Manchester from 1980 to 2011.

They said the results for women born in the 1970s should be a “warning signal” about their drinking habits.

Almost 9,000 people die from conditions related to alcohol each year in the UK. This study, detailed in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, of alcohol-related mortality in the three cities, which all have similar patterns of deprivation, poor health and industrialization.

It compared alcohol-related deaths born between 1910 and 1979.

Men were much more likely to die from alcohol-related disease than women – and the age range most affected was people in their 40s and 50s.

But this rate even fallen for the youngest group of women – those born in the 1970s – this death rate increased in all three cities.

‘Cultural influences’

The team behind the report suggests that cheaper alcohol, and longer drinking hours will all have played their part in fuelling the problem.

Dr Shipton told the BBC it was “a shame” minimum pricing had been rejected in England and Wales. Lucy Rocca: “Heavy drinking was glamorized and became a habit”

She said it was one measure which would help tackle the problem, although it would not address the “deep-rooted cultural influences at play”.

He added: “We know that more action is needed to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol.

“That’s why we’re banning alcohol sales below the level of duty plus VAT to tackle the worst cases of cheap and harmful alcohol. “We’re also strengthening the ban on irresponsible promotions in pubs and clubs and challenging industry to increase its efforts through the responsibility deal.”