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Institute of Alcohol Studies. (2024) Institute of Alcohol Studies - economy.

External website: https://www.ias.org.uk/factsheet/economy/


Alcohol harm across the UK has a significant cost associated with it. And due to the extensive impact it has across many aspects of our society, calculating the cost accurately is difficult. Yet there are clear direct costs: to health services, the criminal justice system, and paramedic and police time. These have a direct impact on government finances. And there are also clear indirect costs: from lost productivity due to premature death, the loss of quality of life for the drinker, and drink driving collisions leading to higher insurance rates.

Alcohol harm costs society in England £27.44 billion each year, a 2024 calculation by IAS found. Figures for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are more dated, with estimates ranging between £5.1 – £8.1 billion total.

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