Liver disease data

Liver disease is on a rise with national figures reporting 40 people die from liver disease every day in the UK. Alcohol consumption rose during the pandemic leading to thousands of hospital admissions and premature deaths. In 2020, the sale of alcohol rose by 3%, which was the highest increase in over 50 years. The heavier drinkers are often from the most deprived areas who already suffer the highest rates of alcohol harm. This intake will continue to rise during the cost of living crisis as people revert to drinking as a way to destress. Obesity and associated liver disease will soon be the leading cause of liver disease, overtaking alcohol. Large studies have shown that obese people who drink are at the highest risk of liver damage. It is essential that the Government and policymakers take appropriate steps to avoid a crisis.

Two recent studies showed that alcohol consumption during the pandemic increased further in already heavy drinkers. The overall harm from alcohol-related health problems substantially increased putting even more pressure on the NHS. They also showed that if this trend persists and there will be hundreds of thousands of additional cases of alcohol-related deaths. The heaviest burden falls on the least well-off in society so the cost-of-living crisis will further exacerbate this problem. It appears that younger people are drinking less than their parents because it is now more socially acceptable not to drink. To deal with the problem, doctors need to adopt a non-judgemental attitude to those who drink and look at the causes. We need to provide more readily available detox and rehab facilities for those who need them most.