‘These unnecessary lives lost, often at a young age, are preventable.’
(Image: Mariyariya via Getty Images)
It’s on sale in almost every supermarket and corner shop, and you’ve likely got it in your fridge and cupboard.
Alcohol is a drink many adults enjoy – but it can also have deadly consequences.
According to new figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), drawing on Office for National Statistics information, hundreds of people in Yorkshire drank themselves to death last year. It comes as a charity dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harm stated “every death is a tragedy” and cautioned that the modest nationwide decrease “is no cause for complacency”.
According to the figures, 837 deaths from alcohol-specific conditions were registered in Yorkshire and Humber in 2024, equating to 15 deaths per 100,000 residents. This represented a fall from 871 deaths and a rate of 16 per 100,000 residents in 2023.
The data also reveals 2,351 deaths from alcohol-related conditions were documented in the region in 2024, equivalent to 43 deaths per 100,000 population. Deaths from alcohol-related conditions encompass those resulting from alcohol-specific conditions – entirely caused by alcohol – and those made more probable by alcohol but which also affect non-drinkers, such as heart disease or cancer.
The devastating impact of alcohol dependency can be seen in the interactive map below. You can also compare the figures for every Yorkshire area in the list below.
Throughout England the number of alcohol-related and alcohol-specific deaths fell after record statistics were reached in 2023. A total of 21,971 deaths from alcohol-related conditions were documented nationwide in 2024, equating to approximately 39 deaths per 100,000 residents. It represented a decrease from 22,644 and a rate of 41 per 100,000 the previous year, both records, but stayed higher than figures observed five or ten years earlier.
Likewise, 7,673 deaths from alcohol-specific conditions were registered last year – approximately 14 deaths per 100,000 population. While it fell from 8,274 deaths and a 15 per 100,000 rate the year before, it similarly stayed above previously recorded levels.
The OHID statistics also highlight disparities between men and women in the prevalence of deaths from alcohol-specific and alcohol-related conditions. In 2024, there were approximately 60 deaths from alcohol-related conditions per 100,000 men, compared to 21 per 100,000 women. Around 19 deaths from alcohol-specific conditions per 100,000 men were recorded, while the rate dropped to nine per 100,000 for women.
Alcohol related deaths in every Yorkshire areaKirkleesDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 68 (16 deaths per 100,000 population)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2023: 192Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 195 (46 deaths per 100,000 people)CalderdaleDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 28 (13 deaths per 100,000 people.)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 46 (22 per 100,000 people in 2023)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 84 (40 deaths per 100,000 population.)LeedsDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 115 (16 deaths per 100,000 people)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 296 ( 41 deaths per 100,000)BradfordDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 71 (14 deaths per 100,000 people.)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 77 (16 per 100,000 people )Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 207 (43 deaths per 100,000 population)SheffieldDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 89 (18 deaths per 100,000 people.)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 97 (19 per 100,000 people)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 217 (43 deaths per 100,000 population.)RotherhamDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 38 (15 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol- related conditions 2023: 103 (38 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 113 (41 deaths per 100,000 people)DoncasterDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 62 (20 deaths per 100,000 people)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 64Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 149 (47 deaths per 100,000 population)BarnsleyDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 40 (17 deaths per 100,000 people.)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 43Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 113 (45 deaths per 100,000 population.)
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North YorkshireDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 92 (13 deaths per 100,000 )Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2023: 277 (38 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 281 (37 deaths per 100,000 )YorkDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 22 (11 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 29 (15 per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 80 (40 deaths per 100,000 )East YorkshireDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 40 (10 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2023: 155 (36 deaths per 100,000 )Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 164 (38 deaths per 100,000)HullDeaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2024: 40 (16 deaths per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-specific conditions 2023: 43 (18 per 100,000)Deaths from alcohol-related conditions 2024: 119 (50 deaths per 100,000)What the experts say
A generic pint of beer (Image: 2024 Getty Images)
Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of charity Alcohol Change UK, said: “While this small drop in deaths is of course positive news, it’s no cause for complacency. Every death is a tragedy – an empty seat at the table at family gatherings.
“These unnecessary lives lost, often at a young age, are preventable.
“The harm caused by alcohol is far wider than deaths and hospitalisations, with many of us feeling the impact on our own health, and in our families, local areas, and workplaces.
“With bold action from Government, we can improve the world around us to make it easier for us to cut back or stop drinking alcohol if we want to by tackling cheap, strong alcohol and out-of-control marketing.
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“And, with properly funded support embedded in our communities, we can also make it easier for people to get help if they’re worried about their own or someone else’s drinking.”
Dr Piper stated that evidence indicates men are more likely to consume harmful levels of alcohol, “putting them at greater risk of experiencing the wide range of alcohol related health issues, from poor mental health and high blood pressure to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer”.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of charity Drinkaware, said: “As a society, we need a strong focus on reducing health inequalities to tackle alcohol deaths and in particular the disproportionate impact on men.
“The Government’s recent men’s health strategy is a positive step, highlighting the need to support healthier choices and encouraging men to seek out help should they need to.
“Prevention is key, and helping more people make informed choices about their drinking can help drive these numbers down further.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care 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.
“As part of our 10 Year Health Plan, we are supporting people to make healthier choices through our shift from sickness to prevention. This includes exploring measures such as alcohol labelling to provide better health and nutritional information.
“We have also provided an additional £310 million in 2025-26 to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support in England, on top of the Public Health Grant.”