The NHS has released a report Statistics on alcohol: England 2008, compiled from a range of previously published alcohol related information and data.

The report aims to present a broad picture of health issues relating to alcohol in England and covers topics such as drinking habits and behaviours among adults and school children, drinking related ill health and mortality, affordability of alcohol and alcohol related costs. Government plans and recommendations in this area are also summarised in the report.

Key facts:

In England in 2006, 72% of men and 57% of women reported drinking an alcoholic drink on at least one day in the week prior to interview. 12% of men and 7% of women reported drinking on every day in the previous week

In Great Britain in 2007, 69% of people reported that they had heard of the government guidelines on alcohol consumption. Of these people, 40% said that they did not know what the recommendations were.

In England in 2006, among pupils aged 11 to 15, 45% of pupils said they had never had a proper alcoholic drink (a whole drink and not just a sip), an increase compared to 39% in 2001. 15% of pupils thought it was okay to get drunk at least once a week, this figure was 30% for 15 year olds.

Drinking-related ill-health and mortality

In England in 2006/07, there were 57,142 NHS hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis specifically related to alcohol. This number has risen by 52% since 1995/96. Of these admissions, 4,888 (9%) involved patients under 18 years of age.

In 2006/07, NHS hospital admissions per 100,000 population varied regionally throughout England. In 2006/07 the North West Strategic Health Authority had the highest rate of 170 admissions with a primary diagnosis specifically related to alcohol per 100,000 population, and the East of England Strategic Health Authority showed the lowest rate of 72 admissions per 100,000 population.