Alcohol-related harm in Brighton & Hove, Hastings and Eastbourne

Brighton	Regional	Brighton & Hove
Male deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	10.1	25.5
Female deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	4.6	6.3
Male deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	11.0	22.5
Female deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	5.8	8.8
Alcohol-related violent crime (per 1,000)	5.7	7.1
Adults estimated to binge drink	18.1%	27.3%

 

Hastings	Regional	Hastings
Male deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	10.1	15.1
Female deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	4.6	5.9
Male deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	11.0	12.6
Female deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	5.8	7.6
Alcohol-related violent crime (per 1,000)	5.7	7.9
Adults estimated to binge drink	18.1%	20.8%

 

Eastbourne	Regional	Eastbourne
Male deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	10.1	18.5
Female deaths due to alcohol (per 100,000)	4.6	6.3
Male deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	11.0	18
Female deaths from chronic liver disease (per 100,000)	5.8	7.8
Alcohol-related violent crime (per 1,000)	5.7	6.7
Adults estimated to binge drink	18.1%	16.0%

My only comment is that every indicator (other than the estimated number of binge drinkers in Eastbourne) is worse than the regional average.

Source: Association of Public Health Observatories in England (September 2010)

The worsening trends in binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths requires sober consideration

I have recently read a really worrying report from the Association of Public Health Observatories in England regarding alcohol misuse in Sussex.  Areas like Brighton and Hove, Hastings, Eastbourne, Adur, Arun and Worthing compare very poorly when compared to the situation in the region.

Life expectancy is lower in many of these areas due to alcohol, particularly amongst men, and deaths due to alcohol are particularly high in Brighton and Hove where 25.5 men per 100,000 die from alcohol related causes (the regional average is 10.1), a high proportion of them from chronic liver disease.

Is the position getting any better.  Not if you look at the trends of adults who binge drink. Compared to the previous year, the numbers estimated to binge drink are rising in every district including the leafy districts such as Wealden, Horsham and Mid-Sussex.  However, the highest increase is in Brighton and Hove where the numbers estimated to binge drink have increase from 19% to 27.3%. 

This worsening trend of binge drinkers must ring alarm bells since alcohol-related illnesses, including chronic liver disease, and alcohol-related deaths will increase in the years to come.  A very sobering thought.