BOOZE will kill 38,000 people in the north west in the next 10 years. Shocking new figures today reveal the true human cost of a society which is relying more and more on alcohol.
Women who drink more than two or three units a day and men who drink more than three or four units daily put themselves at increased risk from cancer of the breast, throat and mouth, mental health problems, liver cirrhosis, strokes and heart problems.
There were more than 54,000 alcohol-related admissions in Greater Manchester hospitals last year and excess drinking is estimated to cost the NHS in the north west £400m. Andy Walker, from the north west alcohol awareness pressure group Our Life, said: "These figures are shocking and it shows the urgency with which we have got to tackle alcohol related harm.
"If we are not careful, we will have an absolutely disastrous situation on our hands. People do not think it is harmful to drink, it has been normalised and that has to change."
The north west research was carried out by the Public Health Observatory and John Moores University, in Liverpool. Nationally, research by Alcohol Concern shows 90,000 people across the country will die from alcohol abuse over the next 10 years.
It also shows there has been a trebling of deaths from 3,054 in 1984 to 8,999 in 2008, as consumption has increased over the past 25 years.
Today, at the start of Alcohol Awareness Week, the M.E.N. reveals new initiatives by health bosses and police to prevent alcohol abuse and crack down on drink-fuelled crime.
GMP officers launched an operation at the weekend to identify bar staff serving people who are already drunk. And Manchester health bosses have also begun a new drive to tackle the problem.
Wythenshawe Hospital will ask patients questions, to help them identify if their health is at risk from drinking too much alcohol and, if necessary, be offered advice and support.
And 16 health centres across Manchester will screen patients who have one or more of the following conditions; increased blood pressure, a mild to moderate mental health condition, have been signed off work for four weeks or more with stress or who are overweight. Staff are being trained to support people who are drinking at an increased risk.
Janet Mantle, of NHS Manchester said: "Once people are aware of how much they are drinking, they can make choices such as having a couple of alcohol free days a week or alternating drinks of alcohol with water or fruit juices."
Mandy Bailey, chief nurse at University Hospitals of South Manchester, which runs Wythenshawe Hospital, said: "This is a n exciting new initiative to support our patients in understanding their alcohol consumption and help them make the necessary changes that will prevent them probably spending long periods of time in hospital."
Police launch crackdown on alcohol crime
Dear diary... I'm drinking too much
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keyjockey, Manchester (19/10/2009 at 09:32)
"Figures on alcohol-related deaths in 2007 indicate a levelling-off of the trend, following rapid increases since the early 1990s. There were 8,724 alcohol-related deaths in 2007, lower than 2006, but more than double the 4,144 recorded in 1991. The alcohol-related death rate was 13.3 per 100,000 population in 2007, compared with 6.9 per 100,000 population in 1991.
As for this sloppy piece of writing and editing; "Nationally, research by Alcohol Concern shows 90,000 people across the country will die from alcohol abuse over the next 10 years."
You don't think the word "suggests" rather than "shows" might be appropriate? Unless your reporter has recently discovered she has the powers of a medium?
Angie33 , Manchester (19/10/2009 at 09:42)
I cant remember the last tim I had a social drink.I drink a couple of times a week to stop my mind racing about many responsibilities and no support.To blot out worries about the family and the present and future for my grandchildren.To blot out the worries and stress that I cnt do anything to change.To have a rest and hopefully get some perspective and decide what takes priority.
Im aware of the dangers,and see myself as something of a bout drinker.I have the ability to 'get back on track'on a regular basis.Many have never been on track in the first place,and this is pretty much the minority of troublemakers people always blame for any troubles re alcohol.Its easy to take the easy option,to point out the health problems that may occur.Nannying as some call it.It might provide an income and life for the nannys but doesnt even touch on the causes.It will need far more intelligence for that and its absent.
nyb, ex manc (19/10/2009 at 10:06)
CorneredAllTheLuck, Tameside (19/10/2009 at 10:49)
Modern society is absolutely awful, I often wonder who benefits from it apart from a lucky few who have 'cornered all the luck' .
Pandora (19/10/2009 at 11:09)
Pandora (19/10/2009 at 11:14)
Man made Climate Change is NONSENSE, Cheadle Hulme (19/10/2009 at 11:20)
These stats are flawed and bias ,bad journalism.
Laura Norder, Didsbury (19/10/2009 at 11:22)
Cheers!
Audenshaw Bob (19/10/2009 at 11:43)
Not just the younger one's having a night on the tiles but most of the country. We work the longest hours in Europe, take home more pay but have far less to live on due to taxes and higher living costs. I drink to relax or blot things out.
Only today the Prime Minister is telling us that unles we do something about climate change this country will soon have thousands dying from extreme heatwaves, extreme floods, extreme winters etc.
We are always told about impending doom and this negativity must wear off on us. We are told that we are on high alert for a terrorist attack, the war on terror is preventing thousands of civilian deaths in thsi country, Saddam could launch chemical weapons at us within minutes etc.
We live in a very negative, cynical country.
Haytch, Manchester (19/10/2009 at 11:54)
Seemingly Ignored, Heald Green (19/10/2009 at 11:55)
We should then turn our attention eating - there's too much of it. In my modest opinion, the state should intervene at every level of our lives to dictate to us what we can and can't do, with the ultimate aim of stopping everyone breathing - another anti-social and piointless activity.
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (19/10/2009 at 11:59)
As pandora said he is spot on with his comment there is self medication as any alcohol worker will tell you that if you have been hitting it hard you dont just stop you slowly cut down as over the 4 day abstinace period you can have alcohol fits and die,there are alcohol nurses who administer librium to ween you off the alcohol over a week reducing the librium each day but with out this it is so so dangerous.
I was not in favour of 24/hour drinking any way it only causes drinking and other country's are educated and drink sensible.
citycentre, manchester (19/10/2009 at 12:21)
And if everyone stopped drinking those 38,000 would just go and die from something else.
"Modern society is absolutely awful" Apart from the better quaility of food available, lower chance of death from diseases, lower infant mortatilty better social mobility then at any time in recorded history of course. Other than that its terrible
Bob Hope (19/10/2009 at 12:30)
Pandora (19/10/2009 at 12:41)
Angie33 , Manchester (19/10/2009 at 12:44)
dessie, manchester (19/10/2009 at 12:51)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (19/10/2009 at 13:05)
Seemingly Ignored, Heald Green (19/10/2009 at 13:06)
I hope you include in that broken ankles from sunday morning football. I find it really annoying when I go to the orthopaedic clinic for treatment on my knee due to being grossly overweight and the place is crowded with shaven-haired football yobbos on crutches.
Esso Blue & R. Soul, Manchester (19/10/2009 at 13:10)
Big killers, Drugs abuse, food abuse, pollution in the food chain and in the air, side affects of prescription drugs. Hospitals overflowing with many types of killer diseases. We are living longer but there are many that are not. If we didn't have immigration we may be down to the last ten men.
wayneold, manc (19/10/2009 at 13:26)
Flymo (19/10/2009 at 13:53)
Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (19/10/2009 at 13:58)
Audenshaw Bob (19/10/2009 at 14:03)
The government even spends a fortune on radio advertising 'not got a tv licence, we are closing in, we know where you are' in a sinister voice. All negative threatening balloney.
Captain Cook's log book were recently read and he talked of 30c heat in the arctic, snow in July in America and thsi was 200 years ago when I wasn't driving my car. Raed David Bellamy's views on global warming.
What the governments are really saying is 'the world will end unless you pay a new tax (i.e. green tax'.
Imagine reading about people in the 19th and the King said 'the end of the world is nigh and the only way of preventing it is to pay more tax'. You woudl be laughing at the people's ignorance yet we have many who blindly believe this and act as messengers. Reliable logbooks show the sea temperature in the South Pole to be no different than it is today.
I used to see a bloke in footbal with a sign saying 'that end is nigh' andw e all thought him daft. Now our PM is saying it and half of Chorlton and some believe them.
JTC Formerley JimC (19/10/2009 at 14:06)
Yep cheers Mr Landlord.