Northerners are the country’s heaviest drinkers, with about half the men and
a quarter of the women drinking above medically recommended safe levels, and
young people are following in their parents’ footsteps.
The State of the Nation report by Alcohol Concern reports that 60 per cent
of employers said they have experienced problems with employees drinking.
One person in 13 is dependent on alcohol, while twice as many are hooked on
other substances, including prescription drugs.
Death rates from chronic liver disease have soared since the 1970s, with an
eight-fold increase among men and a seven-fold rise among women aged 35 to 44.
Yet despite the regional difference, a disproportionate number of the
country’s 507 alcohol counselling and treatment services – 28.5 per cent – were
in London and the South-East.
Alcohol Concern’s chief executive Eric Appleby said: "We have a history
in this country of dealing with the symptoms of alcohol misuse rather than the
root causes – and this means we have generally been on the back foot, trying to
respond to problems as best we can."
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/publications/stateofnation2002.pdf
Drinking above recommended safe levels (%)
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Region                                               Men    Women
Merseyside                                        46       28
North West                                       45       27
North East                                          44       26
Yorkshire and   Humberside              42       23
East Midlands                                     43       23
South East                                          39       23
South West                                        35       21
East                                                    31       20
West Midlands                                    35       19
London                                              31       19
