More people avoiding or reducing alcohol, but harm remains high in the North East, Balance warns
- Signs of progress in the NE but national action still required
Balance has responded to figures showing that almost a quarter of adults in England do not drink alcohol.
The latest data from the Health Survey for England for 2024 suggests 24% of adults said they have not drunk alcohol in the past year.
The data indicates that young people, and increasing numbers of men in particular, are avoiding alcohol. However, fewer older people abstain from alcohol and those who do drink are likely to do so at riskier levels.
The survey also suggests regional differences in alcohol consumption. The West Midlands and London had the highest proportions of non-drinkers, at 27% and 26% respectively, compared with North East England at 17%.
Separate figures do, however, show a narrowing of the gap in risky drinking between the North East and other regions since 2014 (1) with the North East also seeing the largest fall nationally in alcohol-specific deaths between 2023-24 and a reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions (2).
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “The North East still sees the highest level of alcohol harm because alcohol is promoted as an integral part of our culture and social routines. It’s portrayed as the solution to a good day or a bad day, a way to fit in, to relax, have fun and socialise. And in our region, three-quarters of adults think we have a problem nationally and regionally with alcohol (3).
“However, we are seeing some signs of positive progress in the North East, with more people feeling motivated to cut down or cut out alcohol, with our NHS and local authorities supporting more people in the greatest need. Awareness raising campaigns like our, award winning “Alcohol is toxic” have been a success and are helping people to make a more informed decision when it comes to alcohol, while working to reduce some of the stigma experienced by people in addiction.
“If the impact on health, crime and disorder and our economy was not enough, these figures provide a sense-check on the assumption that alcohol must be at the centre of our lives. Alcohol is too readily available, too heavily promoted and relatively too cheap in shops and supermarkets, making it easy to drink at harmful levels for the price of a high street coffee.
“The most effective way to reduce the record number of alcohol deaths is through population-level measures which we know work, such as minimum unit pricing, clear health warnings on alcohol labels, restrictions on alcohol availability, and comprehensive bans on alcohol marketing – together, these interventions reduce consumption and harms, particularly amongst the most vulnerable groups in society. We urgently need a national alcohol strategy that takes the harms of alcohol seriously and recognises the need for evidence-based action.”
For tips, advice, support and free tools to cut down or cut out alcohol, visit ReduceMyRisk.tv
References
1: Alcohol in England Study by University College London- tracking of Prevalence of risky drinking by region and year
2: North East sees largest fall in alcohol deaths – Balance press release Dec 2025 https://www.fresh-balance.co.uk/news/north-east-sees-largest-falls-in-england-in-alcohol-deaths/
3: Balance Perceptions study – independent survey of 1392 North East adults by Bluegrass