According to a study, heavier alcohol consumption during the corona pandemic could lead to thousands of additional hospitalizations and deaths in England over the next 20 years. In particular, people who had previously consumed risky amounts would have drunk (even) more during the time of corona lockdowns and contact restrictions.
The scientists determined five different scenarios for how alcohol consumption could develop. At best, if all consumers drink as much as they did in 2019, they could expect 42,677 additional hospitalizations and 1,830 deaths by 2042.
In the worst-case scenario, a total of 972,382 more hospital cases and 25,192 alcohol-related deaths can be expected over the next 20 years. This would mean an additional £5.2bn cost to the NHS, the health service’s study released Tuesday said.
“disturbing picture”
“These numbers underscore that the impact of the pandemic on our drinking behavior is likely to cast a long shadow over our health,” said study leader Colin Angus. “At a time when NHS services are already under enormous pressure from treatment backlogs, this paints a worrying picture.”
Video: Alcohol and cigarette consumption increased during the corona pandemic
Financially weak areas are particularly affected, where the highest rates of alcohol-related illness are already observed. In response to the study, experts called for an alcohol strategy.
Another concern: Heavy drinkers, in particular, would likely never return to their pre-pandemic levels.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
