Although the volume of alcohol consumed is a clear indicator of potential harm to health, other factors affect the relationship.
The impact of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence is much greater for those in the lowest income bracket and those experiencing the highest levels of deprivation. The reasons for this are not fully understood. People on a low income do not tend to consume more alcohol than people from higher socioeconomic groups. The increased risk is likely to relate to the effects of other issues affecting people in lower socioeconomic groups.
The areas with the lowest rates of alcohol related mortality are mainly found in the south of England. Councils with the highest rates are situated predominantly within the North West.
Tackling alcohol related harm is an important route to reducing health inequalities in general. Alcohol related factors are found across all 4 of the domains in the Public Health Outcomes Framework for England:
Alcohol treatment can contribute to making improvements in:
Alcohol Change UK (formerly Alcohol Concern/Alcohol Research UK) page on alcohol and inequalities.
Alcohol Change UK: Alcohol and inequalities
Accessible overview and synthesis of the main findings from a project to understand the alcohol harm paradox in order to focus the development of interventions.
Understanding the alcohol harm paradox in order to focus the development of interventions
A rapid review which examines the prevalence of smoking, drinking and drug use (and any evidence of trends in these behaviours) among ‘hard to reach’ children and young people. Hard to reach include those children and young people who are young offenders, not in education, employment or training (NEET), truants, care leavers, homeless individuals or those living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
Smoking, drinking and drug use among hard to reach children and young people; an evidence review
