Number of alcohol-related deaths unchanged after 8 years of Labour government - Burstow

4.10.49pm GMT Fri 1st Sep 2006

Research undertaken by Paul Burstow reveals a worrying lack of progress in tackling alcohol-related deaths in the last 8 years of Labour government.

The information, which was received by Mr Burstow in response to parliamentary questions, relates to the number of deaths attributable to alcohol in each London Borough since 1997. The figures show that there were 744 alcohol-related deaths in London in 2005, only two less than in 1997 when 746 people died alcohol related deaths.

The figures show a gradual downward trend since 2002 when deaths peaked at 838, but a longer reading reveals the lack of real progress which has been made since 1997.

The highest number alcohol-related deaths in 2005 occurred in Bromley (40), just 6 fewer than the highest since 1997 when 46 deaths occurred in Hounslow in 2003. On average, 23 deaths occurred in each borough in 2005.

Commenting on the findings, Paul Burstow said:

"These findings show beyond doubt that alcohol is a killer, to say nothing of the countless injuries, negative social effects and other health problems which result from the excessive consumption of alcohol."

"In the light of this information, the fact that as many people died as a direct result of alcohol consumption last year as in 1997 demonstrates that Ministers have failed to get a grip of the problem."

Notes to Editors:

Information was obtained in response to Parliamentary Questions tabled by Paul Burstow in July and October 2005. Table 1: Alcohol related deaths by London Borough 1997-2005

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total Highest Average

(i) Greater London 746 787 829 805 809 838 834 772 744

(ii) Borough

City of London 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 6 2 1

Barking and Dagenham 12 16 23 14 18 19 17 15 15 149 23 17

Barnet 19 18 17 22 29 23 32 18 21 199 32 22

Bexley 16 22 20 26 25 27 27 17 21 201 27 22

Brent 33 40 40 32 30 40 25 33 34 307 40 34

Bromley 21 24 24 30 27 26 21 29 40 242 40 27

Camden 40 37 41 28 44 35 27 27 25 304 44 34

Croydon 32 30 43 34 33 26 43 23 35 299 43 33

Ealing 32 28 34 31 37 38 44 39 35 318 44 35

Enfield 17 19 25 22 13 21 28 26 18 189 28 21

Greenwich 20 29 31 32 29 25 25 26 24 241 32 27

Hackney 13 21 27 16 19 21 25 29 20 191 29 21

Hammersmith and Fulham 20 30 23 25 26 24 25 35 28 236 35 26

Haringey 27 13 23 23 21 20 19 25 33 204 33 23

Harrow 23 20 20 13 14 17 16 22 14 159 23 18

Havering 17 13 14 9 14 24 19 18 14 142 24 16

Hillingdon 34 25 23 16 26 27 30 43 23 247 43 27

Hounslow 18 38 29 31 29 32 46 28 22 273 46 30

Islington 25 36 22 25 32 26 22 13 15 216 36 24

Kensington and Chelsea 16 16 20 28 16 21 14 13 13 157 28 17

Kingston upon Thames 11 18 18 13 24 19 16 13 16 148 24 16

Lambeth 33 41 35 40 32 28 34 33 33 309 41 34

Lewisham 32 28 30 24 29 41 32 32 27 275 41 31

Merton 18 23 18 22 19 22 21 13 10 166 23 18

Newham 28 19 33 29 28 33 32 36 22 260 36 29

Redbridge 27 19 24 26 16 24 16 21 24 197 27 22

Richmond upon Thames 16 17 19 17 15 29 29 23 20 185 29 21

Southwark 35 28 28 37 40 31 35 28 28 290 40 32

Sutton 11 10 21 18 10 17 9 12 21 129 21 14

Tower Hamlets 23 22 27 30 18 25 26 20 20 211 30 23

Waltham Forest 15 21 12 21 21 18 19 16 19 162 21 18

Wandsworth 28 29 31 32 41 24 30 21 19 255 41 28

Westminster 34 37 33 38 34 32 28 25 34 295 38 33

Average 23 217

Highest 40 318 46 35

Lowest 1 6