Alcohol-related hospital admissions are falling for younger age groups, but increasing for the over 65s, new figures reveal.
Public Health England’s (PHE) most recent data on alcohol consumption in the UK shows alcohol-specific hospital admissions in under 18s fell by 8.6% in 2014/15.
They also found the rate of alcohol-related admissions are falling in the under 40s for both males and females but rising in the over 65s for both genders, with rates being highest in the middle age range (40-64).
Hospital admissions for alcoholic liver disease continue to rise, and cancer incidences relating to alcohol have also seen a gradual upward trend in the past decade.
Responding to the PHE’s findings, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, LGA Community and Wellbeing spokeswoman, said: ‘While it is good news that the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions is falling in younger age groups, councils have concerns around the rise in admissions among over 65s.
‘Despite drinking comparatively little, older people consume alcohol far more often. These figures warn of the dangers of regular drinking over a long period of time and the impact this can have on the body of an older person, which is less able to handle the same level of alcohol as in previous years.’
‘Many of us like to have a drink to relax and enjoy our free time, but councils with their responsibility for public health are committed to helping people cut down on how much they drink, through supporting initiatives such as Dry January, to raise awareness and encourage small lifestyle changes which can have a big impact on improving people's health,’ Cllr Seccombe added.
