Dry January in the North East

National World - LocalTV

With the North East having the highest number of alcohol related deaths in 2024, than anywhere else in the country, what are people’s thoughts on abstaining from alcohol from a whole month and why are the numbers so high for our region?

Transcript

00:00However, a report released at the end of last year showed that the North East had the most

00:04alcohol-related deaths in 2024 than anywhere else in the country. This has risen by 57%

00:11since 2019.

00:13Research by the Institute of Alcohol Studies that was reported by NHS Gateshead Health

00:17in spring of last year, stated that alcohol harm is costing the North East nearly £1.5

00:22billion a year.

00:23The report states if the cost in terms of ill health, crime and disorder, social care

00:27and the economy was passed on, it would equate to £562 per head for every adult and child

00:34in the North East, compared to an average national figure of £485 in England.

00:41The enormous £1.5 billion figure was broken down to the £290m of NHS costs, over £812m

00:49in crime and disorder, over £225m for lost earnings and unemployment due to alcohol and

00:56over £158m in social services costs to local authorities.

01:02Taking all of this information into account, what are people's attitudes of alcohol consumption

01:07here in the North East, and what are their thoughts on Dry January?

01:10I just found that quite interesting because I think especially younger people don't seem

01:14to be drinking as much as we did when we were that age. I haven't drunk for seven years,

01:19so every month's a dry month for me.

01:21I think it's the culture, the drinking culture is what's really bad. It shouldn't be Dry

01:25January. I know that, for example, I think 14 units a week is the safe limit. The thing

01:32is, people have those 14 units all in one day when they go out.

01:35I've done Dry January a couple of times. I've left a bit this year, so maybe next year.

01:42I think it's definitely a good thing, especially after Christmas, New Year. I think it's good

01:50to be part of a longer lifestyle change. I've got quite a few friends who've stopped drinking

01:56entirely, and a lot of people around us now, they don't drink.

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