Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of alcoholism during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking as a result of any findings made.

No specific assessment has been made. However, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities found that there was a rise in consumption of alcohol for increasing and higher risk drinkers (individuals that consume more than 14 units a week) during periods of lockdown, compared to when no restrictions were in place. The Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021: report showed a 2.8% increase in those in treatment for alcohol only compared to 2019/20. A copy of the report is attached.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing in a programme to establish specialist alcohol care teams in hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol-dependence-related admissions. In late 2021, a second wave of hospital sites across England were selected to receive funding. We are also spending £533 million over three years in local authority commissioned substance misuse treatment services in England.