BOURNEMOUTH is the sixth worst place in England for people drinking themselves to death, according to figures released this week.

The statistics for 2013 also show an increase in the number of women dying through alcohol abuse, and the town has poor results for under-18s being admitted to hospital through drinking.

Overall the number of people dying through drink in the town has declined since 2008, but the figures are still worse than neighbouring Poole and Christchurch.

Jane Kelly, Bournemouth Council cabinet member for regeneration and public health, said she thought it unlikely the high mortality figures were related to the town’s stag and hen-do culture.

“This is not something we want to see, although the numbers are falling generally,” she said.

“We are trying to get in early with preventative work, such as the upcoming Live Well Dorset initiative.”

Cllr Kelly said it was “possible” that the number of alcohol rehabilitation centres in the town may have influenced the figures.

“This is something we are looking very seriously at at the moment, although they are more to do with drug-related problems,” she said.

The figures, released by Public Health England (PHE), give alcohol-specific deaths for both sexes in Bournemouth as 21.9 per 100,000 people - that is 109 people between 2011 and 2013.

Among female patients the mortality rate has risen from 11.6 per 100,000 in 2008 to 13.6 in the latest report.

By comparison, the alcohol-specific mortality rate in Poole for 2013 was 10.4 per 100,000 people overall and for women 6.5 per 100,000, with Christchurch at 11.2 and 7.1 respectively.

For alcohol-specific hospital admissions at all ages Bournemouth has lower figures than Bristol, Exeter, North Devon and Torbay in the South West, but for under-18s the town is second worst after Torbay.

Town Centre councillor David Smith said: “How many of these people are long-term Bournemouth residents, and how many have come for rehab, stayed and then fallen off the wagon?

“I haven’t been able to get answers to these questions yet.

“I do think alcohol is too cheap and readily available, and the licensing laws are too liberal.

“I don’t think people realise how much they are drinking and the damage it causes.”

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood said the figures were “certainly worrying”.

“This certainly warrants further investigation to find more specific information about what is fuelling the local rise in alcohol-related deaths,” he said.

“I will be raising this matter urgently with stakeholders including the Clinical Commissioning Group.”

Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the NHS about £3.5 billion per year, and society as a whole £21 billion annually.

Drinking is the leading risk factor for deaths among UK men and women aged 15 to 49.

The Live Well Dorset initiative provides advice and support by phone for people to cut down drinking on 0800 840 1628.

The national picture - drink specific deaths per 100,000 people (both sexes)

  • 1 Blackpool 30.49
  • 2 Liverpool 25.3
  • 3 Manchester 24.7
  • 4 Portsmouth 23
  • 5 South Tyneside 22.6
  • 6 Bournemouth 21.9