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Empty beer cans (symbol image): Alcohol abuse is a major problem in Great Britain
Photo: Richard Baker / In Pictures / Getty Images
In the UK, more people died from alcohol consumption in the past year than ever before.
The British statistical office ONS announced on Tuesday that the death of 8,974 people could be linked to alcohol across the country.
That is almost a fifth (18.6 percent) more than in 2019 and the highest increase from one year to the next since data collection began in 2001. Almost twice as many men as women died as a result of their alcohol consumption.
Liver disease due to alcohol abuse was cited as the most common cause of death (77.8 percent), followed by psychological behavior disorders due to alcohol consumption (12.1 percent).
Accidental or intentional alcohol poisoning was responsible for 6.2 percent of the deaths.
More people turned to alcohol during lockdown
The increase in the death rate was clear in all four parts of the country, but especially in England and Scotland, the authority said.
Data from England indicate that during the corona lockdowns with exit and contact restrictions, many people drank more alcohol.
Experts blame stress, loneliness and a lack of access to support services for the increase.
In the summer, Public Health England had spoken of a sad record for alcohol deaths in most of the kingdom.
The number of people who drink alcohol "at a higher and higher risk level" increased by more than half - 58.6 percent - in 2020, it said at the time.
According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), around 36 percent of people in eleven countries surveyed said they had changed their drinking habits and consumed more alcohol during the pandemic.
Five liters less beer in Germany
In Germany, too, according to surveys, a third of adults drank more alcohol than usual during the corona crisis, especially in the first lockdown in early 2020. Apparently, this was particularly true of the age group of adolescents and young adults, where tobacco consumption also increased.
Overall, however, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Germany, less alcohol was sold in the Corona year.
Per capita beer consumption in particular fell sharply in 2020 compared to the previous year (-5.4 percent).
In other words, due to the closed bars, restaurants and clubs as well as the canceled events, every German consumed an average of five liters less beer than in 2019.
kry / dpa
