2009 press releases

25th Aug: Local MP calls for action to tackle 'Booze Britain' as alcohol deaths in local area double in ten years

Lewes MP Norman Baker has called on both East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust and the government to take urgent action after figures unveiled by the Lib Dems showed that the number of alcohol-related deaths in the East Sussex Downs and Weald area has doubled since 1997.

The figures, revealed in an answer to a Lib Dem Parliamentary Question, show that while there were a total of 18 alcohol-related deaths in the area in 1997, there were 35 in 2008 - an increase of 95%. The highest total in one year was in 2001, when 44 people died from alcohol-related causes.

In total, there have been 393 deaths from alcohol-related causes in the area since 1997, including 8 involving people aged 34 or younger. This means that 98% of all alcohol-related deaths involved people aged 35 or over.

Norman Baker commented:

"These figures illustrate how bad many people's relationship with alcohol has become. It's clear that more and more people are falling victim to alcohol misuse. A 95% increase in alcohol-related deaths in little more than a decade is worrying.

"Many people have wrongly assumed that alcohol misuse is mainly a problem for young people, but the fact that there have been 400 deaths since 1997 show that people of all ages must be educated about the perils of drinking too much.

"It is important that East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT takes urgent action to deal with this problem. The fact that there have been almost 400 deaths linked to alcohol in their area since 1997 shows that not enough is being done.

"The government must also take action to reverse this upward trend. Throughout East Sussex , huge supermarkets are continuing to take advantage of people by selling alcohol at loss leading prices.

"It is quite unacceptable and cynical for supermarkets to encourage this problem by selling alcohol below cost price. This practice must be outlawed, and the government must introduce a minimum selling price for alcohol, which would also help the pub trade compete against supermarkets."

Notes

1. The Parliamentary Answer illustrating the figures can be reached here.
2. A spreadsheet outlining the number of alcohol-related deaths in the South East region, broken down by year and age group, can be downloaded here (Excel spreadsheet, 20kb).

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