A data release from the Office for National Statistics has revealed that North West England continues to record the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths in the country.

Alcohol-specific deaths are defined as deaths caused exclusively by alcohol consumption.

Released on 11 May 2026, the yearly ‘Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK’ dataset logged 1,232 deaths across North West England in 2024.

This was nearly 200 more than any other region.

The result is unfortunately formulaic: 2024 marked the fifth year in a row that the North West registered the most alcohol-specific deaths nationally.

Over the course of the five years, almost 6500 people in the North West died exclusively from alcohol consumption – more than 1000 cases higher than elsewhere in England.

There are numerous reasons for this repeated geographical health disparity, according to Health Equity North (HEN).

Hannah Davies, Executive Director of HEN, said: “The ONS findings reflect longstanding health inequalities across the North of England, where communities continue to experience higher levels of poverty, poor health, insecure work, and reduced access to preventative support services compared to many other parts of the country.

“Health Equity North research has previously shown that alcohol-related deaths are closely tied to the social determinants of health.

“Years of economic decline, austerity, cuts to public services, and widening inequalities have left many communities more vulnerable to poor mental health, substance misuse, and preventable early deaths.”

Proposing a solution, Ms Davies called for a national strategy focused on “improving the underlying conditions that drive preventable deaths.”

This was a sentiment shared by Clare Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of the substance misuse charity, Turning Point.

Ms Taylor said: “Tackling alcohol harm must be a national priority. This includes strengthening training for healthcare professionals across primary care, emergency departments and hospitals, and improving coordination with specialist community alcohol and drug services.

“Alcohol related deaths are avoidable, and timely access to information, support, and treatment is one of the strongest protections against harm.

“Although more people are entering treatment, too many still miss out on support until it is too late, and stigma continues to prevent people from seeking help.”

Currently, the Government is enacting a ’10-year strategic plan’ to radically overhaul the way in which drug and alcohol treatments are delivered.

This has included an additional £532 million investment between 2022 and 2025, in order to improve both the capacity and quality of drug and alcohol treatments.

While national investment is undoubtedly a positive step forward, currently the ’10-year plan’ contains no specific strategy designed to reduce alcohol addiction in the North West.

Instead, the plan focuses primarily on countrywide figures, and relies on the regional implementation of agreed measures by local teams, thus the responsibility for reducing alcohol-specific deaths is placed back onto the region itself.

Dr Richard Piper, CEO of Alcohol Change UK, said: “Every death from alcohol is a preventable tragedy. Behind these figures are real families.

“While the Government has ambitious national plans to tackle issues like smoking and cancer, it’s falling short on meaningful policies to prevent alcohol harm. This needs to change.

“It’s time to rid our shelves of high-strength alcohol at pocket-money prices, create a modern licensing system to address round-the-clock availability of alcohol, and better protect all of us – especially our children – from relentless alcohol marketing.”

In response to request for comment, a government spokesperson said: “Any death from alcohol is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with the individuals and loved ones impacted.

“This government recognises the ways in which people purchase alcohol have evolved in recent years. The licencing regime needs to remain fit for purpose and able to meet emerging challenges, so we will be discussing that and alcohol-related harms in the coming months.

“We are also committed to ensuring those affected by alcohol-related harms can access the treatment they require, demonstrated by continued investment in local alcohol treatment services.”

If you, or someone you know, are struggling from alcohol addiction, support can be found from Alcoholics Anonymous here, you can call them for free on 0800 917 7650, or email them at help@aamail.org.

NHS support with alcohol addiction can be found here.

For young people struggling with alcohol addiction, support can be found from Young Minds here.

Editor’s Note: ‘North West’ refers to one of the nine official statistical regions of England, encompassing: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria, and Cheshire. See the illustration below.

Featured image credit: Atlas Treatment Center.