Warwickshire Alcohol Health Needs Assessment (2022) - Publications

Warwickshire is home to a growing population, with the largest increases expected among older age groups.

Alcohol consumption patterns vary across age, sex and levels of deprivation.

Men are more likely than women to drink at increasing or higher-risk levels.

Warwick District and Nuneaton & Bedworth have a higher density of licensed premises than many other areas.

Nationally, drinking above recommended levels is most common among people aged 55-64 years.

People living in less deprived areas are more likely to drink regularly and exceed recommended drinking limits.

Men are consistently more likely than women to drink at increasing and higher-risk levels.

Men are significantly more likely than women to be admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions.

Alcohol-related admissions are highest among adults aged 35-64 years, particularly those aged 45-49.

Nuneaton & Bedworth experiences some of the highest rates of alcohol-related mortality and alcohol-related harms within Warwickshire.

Six of the fifteen neighbourhoods with the highest alcohol-related admission rates are located in Nuneaton & Bedworth.

Rugby has particularly high rates of admissions for alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol contributes to a wide range of short-term harms, including injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning and risky behaviours.

Long-term alcohol use increases the risk of liver disease, cardiovascular disease, several cancers, poor mental health and cognitive decline.

Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for wider issues such as trauma, poor mental health and social difficulties.

Alcohol-related harm has substantial economic costs through reduced productivity, sickness absence, unemployment and premature mortality.

Alcohol causes significant losses to the workforce through years of working life lost due to illness and early death.

Alcohol is a significant factor in violence, anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse. Nearly half of alcohol-related crimes recorded in Warwickshire were linked to domestic incidents.

Alcohol-related crime hotspots are concentrated around the main town centres of Warwickshire.

Warwickshire has higher rates of alcohol-impaired road traffic incidents than both the West Midlands and national averages.

Alcohol-related harm is not experienced evenly across the population and is strongly associated with deprivation.

People living in more deprived communities experience significantly higher rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions.

Nuneaton & Bedworth experiences some of the highest levels of alcohol-related harm across several indicators.

Vulnerable groups including children affected by parental drinking, people experiencing homelessness, veterans, people with mental health conditions and pregnant women may face increased risks from alcohol misuse.

An estimated 31,661 children in Warwickshire live with an adult who binge drinks.

Alcohol-related hospital admissions among under-18s are higher in every Warwickshire district and borough than regional and national averages.

Around six per cent of Year 6 pupils reported being worried about somebody's drinking at home.

Alcohol use among young people remains a concern, particularly given the links with educational outcomes, risk-taking behaviour and future health.

Warwickshire provides specialist treatment and recovery services for adults experiencing alcohol dependency. Around 711 people entered alcohol treatment during 2020/21, similar to previous years.

Most people entering treatment refer themselves rather than being referred by services.

Waiting times for treatment are generally short and compare favourably with national performance.

However, an estimated 80% of dependent drinkers are not currently in contact with treatment services, highlighting substantial unmet need.

Specialist support is available for children and young people affected by their own or someone else's alcohol use.

Primary care, hospitals, public health services, Alcoholics Anonymous, licensing partnerships and community safety partnerships all play important roles in reducing alcohol-related harm.

Evidence shows that reducing the affordability, availability and acceptability of alcohol can reduce alcohol-related harm.

Brief interventions delivered by healthcare professionals are effective in reducing alcohol consumption and preventing future harm. Alcohol treatment services provide significant social and economic returns on investment.

The most effective approaches combine prevention, education, treatment, recovery support and partnership working.