In 2020, the UK saw a 19% increase, a record high skyrocketing in alcohol deaths. This is the highest increase in alcohol deaths since the records began, according to the the Office for National Statistics, and translates to 8,974 people who died from alcohol specific causes registered in the 12 month period.
Alcohol use patterns changed during the pandemic and surveys show heavy alcohol use increased during lockdowns in England. This is no coincidence since the alcohol industry exploited the pandemic to aggressively market alcohol as a coping tool. Unfortunately the UK government appears to still be blind to the alcohol burden hurting people and communities in the UK. If urgent action is not taken alcohol issues and deaths are bound to increase further in the country.