The frontline of Britain’s lockdown drink problem as alcohol deaths soar

The new Covid restrictions for England mean many of us will be retreating back into our homes, in a bid to minimise the risk of Omicron.

But stark evidence from last year's lockdown shows there are very real risks inside the home too.

Almost 9,000 people died of alcohol related illnesses in 2020, the highest number of deaths since records began.

This programme has been given exclusive access inside a specialist liver unit in Nottingham, where doctors warn of deaths rising even more if we don't urgently change our lockdown drinking habits.

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[sallyunderwood]

What a lovely man. It hit me when he said he was the life and soul of the party and then he'd go home a cry. I used to do the same and now haven't drunk for 4 years. Best decision ever.

[amandad]

Finally, the UK media is talking about this problem. This is good.

[HDManMad]

The drinking culture in this country really is a problem. Alcohol causes so much misery and death to so many people. More so than COVID ever has or ever will. Yet this is rarely spoken about

[grahamturner]

Consider the phrase "drink and drugs". Alcohol IS a drug. An extremely strong one. But people are encouraged to think of it as something else.

[DaRyteJuan]

*“Addiction doesn’t want you ‘round people. It wants you on your own.”* That’s for sure.

[fritsgerms]

The odds of beating addiction, when exposed to as a kid, is depressingly bad. It's not a question of discipline, but of how much pain these people feel they can and have to endure.

[Phil_A_O_Fish]

I quit drinking alcohol over 18 years ago at age 50 even though I'd been a regular drinker from the age of 18. I didn't quit because of the reasons that were mentioned in this video by these two brave people, i.e. I didn't have liver or any other medical problems and could take it or leave it and didn't have to drink every day. The real reason that I quit was because I used to suffer from horrendous hangovers and I used what I refer to as my own 'Mr Spock' form of quitting, i.e. logic - if I didn't drink alcohol in the first place then logic dictates that I wouldn't suffer from those same hangovers afterwards, would I? After all this time I can't even stand the smell of alcohol in any of its many forms never mind the taste and I avoid pubs at all costs and the same goes for any other venues where I know that alcohol's going to be served.

The daftest thing about this is that between the ages of 18 and 45 I worked in several pubs and clubs both here in the U.K. and also in Canada and I could've attended those same places on my nights off and have a tab running where I could drink booze at greatly reduced prices to my heart's content if I wanted to. No matter which drinking establishment I worked in I never took advantage of that fact. Most of my drinking was usually restricted to the evenings and nights before my days off to give me ample time to recover on the day or days after when I didn't have to attend work.

In my last job which was in an office I was expected to work on Sundays therefore boozing on a Saturday was strictly off limits because I had no desire to be at work the following day suffering from a hangover. Fridays were okay because our offices were closed on a Saturday therefore we could all go out and socialise that same evening and night without any problem.

Even though I'm such a longstanding non-drinker of alcohol I've tried over the years not to moralise with others who like to drink and keep my opinions to myself on that subject. It's never plain sailing when it comes to this because I often get dirty looks from people whenever I venture into a pub merely to use their toilets if I need to - most of those same dirty looks come from the members of staff who work there....if by chance I happen to stay in any of them I make a point of sitting outside in their beer gardens if they have them but that doesn't stop any of their regular customers or staff from either giving me dirty looks or making snide comments. It's a no-win situation as far as I'm concerned therefore that's why I avoid pubs.

As I'm a single man and have lived alone throughout most of my adult life I have no problems with any of these lockdowns, shutdowns, restrictions etc because I've been used to them for well over three decades - in fact the only significant difference between now and March 2020, i.e. since the start of the pandemic, has been that I only go out once a day to my local shop for essentials if I need them and if I don't then I stay at home.

[georgevine]

Crazy how this is legal but weed isn’t

[terenceingledew]

As a recovered alcoholic, I can't convey the anguish felt watching another grey dawn rise over your self-inflicted misery, your own personal battle as you try to recall another lost night.

[vintagebilly.uk..]

I was a severe alcoholic in the 80s when I was in my 20s I went into rehab 1992 it was a 12 step rehab they saved my life I’ve been in recovery for over 20 years and have no desire to drink again day to day anyone out there with a booze problem there is recovery if you want it take care uk

[claire_eve]

My heart goes out to these people. I am an alcoholic, I stopped in May 2016. My brother. is an alcoholic too, and he is basically at deaths door. Why on earth are we encouraged as a society to put this stuff into our systems?

[yetidodger]

The alcohol companies in this country are very powerful, I notice on the radio how its normalised everyday by the presenters laughing and joking about having a few or one too many, the media even subtly convinced a nation that Amy Winehouse overdosed on drugs instead of drinking herself to death. As someone said to me it's like a very slow suicide.

[bigtguitars]

You’re a brave Lady Annie and you’re not alone

[markcalvert]

I stayed sober throughout the whole of lockdowns.And I am still sober. Life is easier without alcohol.

[africanqueenmo]

As a non drinker I' know the power saying NO to alcohol no matter the peer pressure or sidelining at work or Social circles for not drinking with peers

[ramsaymeldrum]

Refreshing to hear someone vocalise why government is reluctant to even recognise the problem, never mind address it. The alcohol industry and the relevant bodies that represent them have far too much influence on policy, and far too little (self) regulation.
Also, 4+ years sober. Not an example of how it should be done. Just evidence it can be done, and offer encouragement to find a way that works for the individual.

[sewwithfelt]

The pandemic needs to be recognised as a trauma and where trauma goes, addiction follows when people turn to substances to numb whatever is going on in their heads.

[TheLRider]

Alcohol is a massive earner for both Govt and wealthy share holders. The Govt has to spend tax payers money on treating the patients and chrine brought about by abuse of alcohol. Meanwhile the share holders laugh all the way to the bank. Not quite right is it somehow. The industry needs to act more responsibly and square up to its responsibility for the damage it does to society. Why should it be tax payers paying for the damage caused. The NHS and our police have enough to do already.

[kayew]

And this is why cannabis should be legalised. Alcohol kills. Cannabis helps in a wide number of medical problems without the risks to health.

[MARKETMAN]

Not a single alcoholic started out with the intention of becoming one, Don't be stupid like me and think it could never happen to me. because it does and it did,