UNITED KINGDOM — Alcohol-specific deaths in the United Kingdom fell to 9,809 in 2024, the lowest annual total since 2020, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. The figure marks a decline from 10,473 deaths registered in 2023, which had been the highest number on record.

The rate of alcohol-specific deaths across the UK was 14.8 per 100,000 people in 2024, also the lowest since 2020. The number of such deaths had increased each year from 2018 to 2023.

The death rate in England stood at 13.8 per 100,000 people in 2024, down from the previous year, while Wales recorded a rate of 16.8 per 100,000, also a decrease. Scotland registered 20.9 deaths per 100,000 people and Northern Ireland 21.4 per 100,000.

Within England, the North East had the highest regional rate at 21.1 per 100,000 people, while London had the lowest at 10.9 per 100,000. The death rate for men in the UK was 20.2 per 100,000, almost twice the rate for women. Age-specific death rates fell among people aged 25 to 79 in 2024 compared with 2023, while rates among those aged 80 and over increased.

"Let's be clear, alcohol deaths remain at a deeply unacceptable level, and we cannot allow that to become normal," said Dr Katherine Severi, Chief Executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies. "A modest reduction is not cause for complacency – it is cause for redoubling efforts," she added.

Dr Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Change UK, said the latest figures remained elevated by historical standards. "They are significantly higher than they were before the pandemic and are still the biggest we've seen in decades," he said. Piper also said: "More economic hardship causes an increase in drinking due to the stress and anxiety it brings, while over 70% of all alcohol is purchased at home and shop-bought alcohol is as cheap as it's ever been."

Alcohol Change UK is calling on the government to introduce minimum unit pricing in England and to implement controls for online marketing of alcohol.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Any death from alcohol is a tragedy. While these figures show a slight reduction, alcohol-related deaths remain at unacceptably high levels and we are determined to drive them down." The spokesperson said: "Our 10 Year Health Plan commitment to alcohol labelling to provide better health and nutritional information is a crucial step in supporting people to make healthier choices," and added: "Over the next three years, the government is providing £3.4 bn of ring-fenced funding through the Public Health Grant to support drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery services."