New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which show 9,809 deaths in the UK from alcohol-specific causes in 2024 have been described by the British Liver Trust as tragically high and a wake-up call.
While the Trust says it is encouraging that the figures show the lowest numbers of alcohol-specific deaths since 2020, they still reflect the fact that almost 10,000 people, around one person an hour, lost their lives to entirely preventable conditions. Alcohol‑related liver disease continues to be the leading cause of liver‑related deaths in the UK and the charity calls for a comprehensive, long‑term approach to alcohol harm. This includes addressing price, reducing affordability, and tackling the ease of access to alcohol so that fewer people reach crisis point and more lives are saved.
The new ONS data reveals:
- 9,809 deaths from alcohol-specific causes were registered in the UK, the lowest number since 2021 (9,641 deaths), and the rate of alcohol-specific deaths (14.8 per 100,000 people) decreased to its lowest recorded number since 2020 (13.9 deaths per 100,000 people).
- In 2024, alcohol-specific deaths decreased year-on-year for the first time since 2018. Between 2019 and 2023, registered alcohol-specific deaths increased from 7,565 to 10,473, a rise of 38.4%. Over that same period, the alcohol-specific death rate rose from 11.8 to 15.9 per 100,000 people.
- The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males remained around double the rate for females (20.2 and 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively); consistent with previous years.
- England and Wales had a decrease in the rate of alcohol-specific deaths (13.8 and 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively) compared with 2023.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland continued to have the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths (20.9 and 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively), with a decrease in the rate in Scotland and an increase in Northern Ireland when compared with 2023.
- The North East had the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths of any English region (21.1 deaths per 100,000); London had the lowest rate (10.9 deaths per 100,000).
- Age-specific rates decreased compared with 2023 for people aged between 25 and 79 years, while rates for those aged 80 years and over increased; rates for those aged 20 to 24 years remained similar to 2023.
- Between 2019 and 2022, alcohol specific deaths in the UK rose year-on-year to a record high of 16.6 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2022. However, in 2023 this rate decreased when compared with 2022, and in 2024 the rate of 14.8 was the lowest since 2020, when it was 13.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, said: “Any reduction in alcohol‑specific deaths is welcome, but these deaths are not inevitable. We know what works to reduce alcohol harm – and we are not doing enough of it.
“Too many people are drinking at harmful levels because alcohol is cheap, widely available and heavily promoted. Evidence shows that measures such as addressing price, reducing affordability, and tackling the ease of access to alcohol can save lives. Without stronger action on prevention, we will continue to see thousands of avoidable deaths every year.
“This modest improvement should not be mistaken for progress achieved. Too many people are still being diagnosed when their liver disease is advanced and treatment options are limited. Behind these statistics are families and communities devastated by loss.
“The British Liver Trust will continue to call for a comprehensive, long‑term approach to alcohol harm so that more lives are saved.”
