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Alcohol abuse killing Midlanders
Aug 15 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail
DRINKERS are boozing themselves to death, with Birmingham and the West Midlands one of the worst areas of the country.
Britain's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said latest figures showed six per cent of male deaths in the West Midlands and four per cent in women were caused by alcohol.
The overall mortality rate from boozing is the third highest in England at 0.52 deaths per 1,000 people Ð just behind the North West and North East.
Sir Liam said poorer areas have more deaths, hospital admissions, crime, absence from work, school exclusions, teenage pregnancy and road accidents because of boozing.
In deprived districts like Kingstanding and Sparkbrook, excessive drinking cuts the length of men's lives by more than 17 months.
Dr Rashmi Shukla, regional director of public health in the West Midlands, said: "This is a landmark report and should convince us of the need for action."
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