Alcohol

Summary

Excessive alcohol consumption is England’s second biggest cause of premature mortality behind tobacco use. Regular heavy drinking and binge-drinking behaviours are associated with a whole range of issues including anti-social behaviour, and an increased risk of physical and mental health problems. Long-term alcohol misuse is linked to a range of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic liver disease and diabetes as well as having an impact on the social wellbeing of a person, their family, and friends. Long-term alcohol misuse can lead to social problems such as unemployment, domestic abuse and homelessness.

Key findings

The rates below are directly standardised (DSR) and are per 100,000 of the population (all ages unless stated). 

Alcohol-specific conditions

The term 'alcohol-specific conditions' refers to conditions caused wholly by the use of alcohol including alcohol-induced behavioural disorders and alcohol-related liver cirrhosis.

• There were a total 9,220 alcohol-specific hospital admissions (for all persons) recorded across Lancashire-12, giving the area a DSR of 749, significantly above the England rate of 626 (2021/22).
• Both Blackpool (1,230) and Blackburn with Darwen (1270) record alcohol-specific admission rates significantly above the England rate.
• Burnley (966), Preston (912), Hyndburn (898), Chorley (857), Rossendale (759), Fylde (723), South Ribble (707) and Lancaster (675) recorded rates significantly above England, the remaining districts (Wyre, Ribble Valley. Pendle and West Lancs) are similar.
• Between 2018/19 - 2020/21, there were 255 hospital admission episodes for alcohol-specific conditions involving persons aged 17 and under in Lancashire-12. This gives the area a DSR of 33.8 per 100,000 people, significantly above the England rate of 29.3.
• Blackpool (22.9) is now statistically similar to the England rate and Blackburn with Darwen (38.8) is above the England rate.
• At a district level Rossendale (53.5), Burnley (48.4) and West Lancashire (45.1) have significantly higher rates than England. All other districts are statistically similar to England. 
• The latest three-year (2017-19) alcohol-specific mortality rates show that there were 490 deaths across Lancashire-12, giving the area a DSR of 13.6 (all ages), significantly above the England rate of 10.9.
• Blackpool (27.3) and Blackburn with Darwen (16.0) are also significantly higher.
• At a district level, South Ribble (17.1), Preston (17.1) and Lancaster (16.8) are significantly higher than England, while only Ribble Valley (5.4) is significantly lower.

Alcohol-related conditions

Admissions for alcohol-related conditions (narrow) refers to where the primary diagnosis is an alcohol-related condition, or a secondary diagnosis is an alcohol-related external cause. Alcohol-related mortality refers to deaths with an alcohol attributable fraction based on the underlying cause of death (including ethanol or methanol poisoning and the toxic effects of alcohol). 

• In 2021/22, across Lancashire-12, 6,047 hospital admissions were classed as alcohol-related conditions. This gives the area a DSR of 487, which is similar to England (494). 
• Blackpool (751) and Blackburn with Darwen (535) both have significantly higher rates than England.
• At district level Wyre (561), Lancaster (560) and Fylde (549) all record rates significantly above England, Burnley, Hyndburn and Preston were similar whilst Chorley (449), Pendle (443), Rossendale (430), West Lancashire (415), South Ribble (405) and Ribble Valley (395) were significantly lower.
• There were 566 alcohol-related deaths recorded across Lancashire-12 in 2021, giving the area a DSR of 44.7, significantly higher than England's rate (38.5).
• Blackpool (77.5) is significantly above the national average and has the highest rate in the country. Blackburn with Darwen (55.3) is also significantly above England. 
• Preston (54.2) & Wyre (50.6) were both higher than England; the remaining 10 districts were similar.

Treatment

• In 2020/21 Lancashire 1630 people were in treatment at specialist alcohol misuse services with 0.6% waiting more than 3 weeks for treatment which is better than the England rate of 2%
• In 2021 Lancashire had a successful completion of alcohol treatment rate of 47.9% which again is significantly above the England rate (36.6%) though this is decreasing.
• The mortality ratio for deaths in alcohol treatment in the period 2018/19-2020/21 is significantly worse than England at 1.35 (vs 1)

 

The Local Alcohol Profiles for England provide local data alongside national comparators to support local health improvement.

For county and unitary data and further information please see below.

 

Page updated May 2023