And nearly a fifth of all crimes recorded in 2013 and 2014 involved alcohol in some way, the 2015 Jersey Alcohol Profile has found.
According to the report, Jersey still has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita in Europe – second only to Lithuania – and drinking rates are significantly higher than in most of the developed world.
Today, Dr Susan Turnbull, Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, said that there was ‘merit’ in introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol to try to combat the Island’s drinking levels.
However, she said that despite the worrying figures there was some good news as fewer young people – those aged 12 to 15 – were drinking alcohol. And the report found that young drinkers in Jersey consume less than their UK counterparts.
‘The average per capita consumption has been creeping down, although it has levelled off. ‘It is encouraging that it has come down since 2000.
‘Young people’s attitudes are changing so there is hope for the future.
‘However, there is no room for complacency. We are still among the worst in Europe.’
Alcohol-related deaths in Jersey
- Between 2012 and 2014 there were 45 alcohol-related deaths in Jersey. This is similar to the period between 2009 and 2011, which saw 50 alcohol related deaths.
- Between 2012 and 2014, men accounted for 71 per cent of alcohol-related deaths.
- The most common alcohol-related death was alcoholic disease, which accounted for three-quarters of alcohol-related deaths.
The amount spent by the States on benefits due to alcohol-related sickness and ailments (including alcoholism) in 2014:
- £678,000 was paid for a total 169 claims.
- This represents a ten per cent decrease compared to 2013 when expenditure was £757,500 and is the lowest expenditure for eight years.
Alcohol-related crime
- In 2013 and 2014 61 per cent of evening street violence involved alcohol.
- There are around 300 incidents of domestic violence reported to the States police annually. Of these, 44 per cent were recorded as having alcohol involvement.[/breakout]
In 2014, Islanders drank an average of 12.1 litres of pure alcohol – the equivalent of 134 bottles of wine or 30 bottles of spirits.
This was a similar level to 2013 and around two litres per capita less than in 2004. In comparison the average for countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is nine litres.
The report, which was compiled by the Health Intelligence Unit, also found that 27 per cent of drinkers – around 20,000 Islanders – drink at ‘potentially hazardous or harmful levels’.
Hazardous drinking is defined as carrying the risks of physical and psychological harm while ‘harmful drinking’ denotes that damage to health is likely.
Jersey’s hazardous and harmful drinking levels were similar to those found in England.
Scotland, which also has high hazardous drinking levels, has sought to address the issue by passing legislation for a minimum unit price of 50p for alcohol.
The law is yet to be implemented because a legal challenge is currently before the European Court of Justice.
When asked if Jersey should consider introducing similar legislation Dr Turnbull said: ‘I think there is potentially merit in it.
‘I can’t see a downside to that but it would have to be a political discussion and decision but I think it is worth considering.
She added that the legislation would not affect restaurants and bars, which already charge more than 50p per alcohol unit but would affect supermarkets and off-licences.
The report also found that 94 per cent of women who were pregnant in 2014 did not drink.
Although Dr Turnbull said that this was ‘excellent news’ she said that it still meant that six per cent of women still drink during pregnancy.
