£58.48 billion is lost due to economic costs to the individual, the economy, social care and employers
£6 billion is lost in economic yield due to alcohol [16]
Considering the cross-over in sectors (e.g. social services and policing) that are associated with alcohol, it can be difficult to determine alcohol's effect on the economy through clear statistics.
Healthcare Effects Of Alcohol
Injuries & Accidents
In 2018-2019, 358,000 admissions to Accident and Emergency were directly caused by alcohol, with 23% of those being caused by unintentional injuries incurred while drunk [17].
In 2012, alcohol-related Accident and Emergency admissions cost the NHS £696 million [18].
Drink Driving
In 2021, 1,880 people were killed or seriously injured due to drunk driving [19].
In 2014, drink driving cost the UK government £754 million [20].
Impaired Decision Making
86% of those attending sexual health clinics after unprotected sex exceeded the government's binge drinking levels
19% of women attending sexual health clinics were pregnant after binge drinking [21]
Long-Term Treatment For Liver Diseases
In the UK there are:
5,000 new cases of liver cancer per year - with treatment costing £44,000 per person [22]
Being encouraged to drink more when their spouse is drinking
Increased tension in relationships caused by drinkers' unpredictable behaviour
The drinker's needs become the priority in the relationship - with the partner having to sacrifice their own needs [45]
Stigma
Examples of stigma, prejudice and stereotypes associated with alcohol include:
The "drunken Irish" stereotype - being seen as aggressive and absent from work leading to loss of employment opportunities [46]
Stigma due to low socio-economic class causes a lack of economic opportunities, leading to a 20% increased risk of alcoholism [47]
Native Americans - 39% of Native Americans report offensive comments connected to alcohol use [48]
Alcoholics also experience stigma and prejudice, such as:
The belief that alcoholics have no intention of seeking help for alcohol abuse - affects funding or availability of treatment
The belief that alcoholics are not suffering from alcoholism; instead, they cannot handle drinking. This stigmatises getting help and furthers alcoholism
Recovering alcoholics struggling to regain custody of children after years of sobriety
Indirect Costs Of Alcohol
Aspects that relate indirectly to alcohol usage at an individual level, that ultimately become issues at a societal level, include:
Alcohol accelerating cancer - 2.5 million cancer patients in 2022 became unable to work due to cancer [49]
When Does Socially Acceptable Alcohol Use Become Detrimental To Society?
Socially acceptable uses of alcohol can develop into non-functional drinking that incurs negative effects on society:
Alcohol's intended use is to enhance creativity in artists, but leads to mental health disorders that hinder any work being produced (Vincent Van Gogh, Amy Winehouse, and Ernest Hemingway all suffered from comorbid alcoholism and depression) [50]
Alcohol's intended use is to ease social interactions, but becomes negative when alcohol causes inappropriate or aggressive behaviour
Alcohol at weddings is considered a socially acceptable way to celebrate the bride and groom's union. However, 14% of married couples say drunk guests were one of the main stressors at their wedding [51]
Alcohol on holiday is considered a socially acceptable way to relax. However, British tourists have developed a reputation abroad for public drunkenness, leading to calls for bans or specific zones for British tourists [52]
Key Metrics In Alcohol Drinking vs Non-Alcohol-Drinking Populations
Harriet Garfoot BA, MA has an Undergraduate degree in Education Studies and English, and a Master's degree in English Literature, from Bishop Grosseteste University. Harriet writes on stress & mental health, and is a member of the Burney Society. Content reviewed by Laura Morris (Clinical Lead).
