Deaths in England and Wales caused by alcohol related disease have doubled in the last 20 years, and the year to 2001 showed the highest percentage increase in alcohol-related deaths for any year since 1979.
The age at which these deaths occur is increasingly younger and younger. The death rate for those aged between 25 and 44 has tripled since 1979. There are even more deaths where alcohol has been involved, such as accidents and suicides.
As the liver is the principal organ responsible for breaking down alcohol it bears the brunt of excessive drinking. The first stage of alcohol-related liver disease is "fatty liver". This is a side effect of the liver's attempts to break down alcohol, and is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver. It is often symptom-free, but is picked up during routine medical examinations. Although very common in heavy drinkers, it is also commonly found in those drinking just above the recommended limits. Fatty liver is often the precursor to a number of severe liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.
In cases of alcoholic hepatitis, giving up alcohol combined with a good diet can lead to a complete recovery, although death rates in alcoholic hepatitis are high. In the case of cirrhosis however, the illness affects the liver's ability to regenerate itself and there is no cure. If the sufferer continues to drink it will bring about complete liver failure. 10% of those suffering from cirrhosis go on to develop liver cancer, which is fatal within 6 months. It is unclear why some individuals go on to develop these severe diseases whilst others consuming similar quantities of alcohol do not.
