Local and national facts

• Over 30,000 children in Birmingham are growing up in families where parents misuse alcohol

• Over 25,000 people in Birmingham are dependent on alcohol

• Hospital admissions for alcohol related conditions have doubled since 2002 in Birmingham

• Recorded crime attributable to alcohol in Birmingham is 40% higher than the national average and is second highest in the West Midland Region

The following headlines, taken from the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England (2004), illustrate the nature and range and the impact of alcohol nationally:

• 1.2 million violent incidents

• 360,000 incidents of domestic violence

• increased anti social behaviour and fear of crime (61% of the population perceive alcohol related as worsening) 

• Over 30,000 hospital admissions for alcohol dependence syndrome

• 22,000 premature deaths per year

• 70% of all admissions to A&E departments at peak times

• up to 1000 suicides per year including accidental overdose

• up to 17 million working days lost through alcohol related absence

• Over 1 million children affected by parental alcohol problems

• Increased divorce – marriages are twice as likely to end in divorce where there are alcohol problems

During the period 2000-2006 the percentage of girls aged 11-13 who had drunk alcohol rose by 82.6% and for boys 43.4%. Consumption rates for 11-15 year olds increased by virtually 100% between 1990 and 2000.

For more information download a copy of Birmingham's Alcohol Strategy 'Reducing Harm/Empowering Change'.