In 1991, the number of alcohol-related deaths in Shropshire stood at only 11. But by 2005 the number of deaths attributed to alcohol had leapt to 29. This is a larger percentage increase than across the country as a whole, where alcohol related deaths have doubled from 4,144 in 1991 to 8,386 in 2005.
The 15 year average is 22.2 deaths per year. But this masks a much lower rate during the last full five years of the Conservative government, where the average annual death rate from alcohol was 14.8. This has increased by two and a half times to an average of 35.2 deaths per year over the last five years under Labour.
Mr Dunne said today:
"These findings are very disturbing and reflect the sad consequence of increased alcohol consumption in this country. The Government has spent enormous political energy relaxing licensing laws but done little to tackle effectively this growing problem. Whichever way you cut the figures, for all Tony Blair's tough talk, death from alcohol abuse in Shropshire has got much worse under Labour. What we need is a proper strategy to reduce alcoholism, starting in our schools."
An alcohol-related death is described by the Office for National Statistics as one that is caused by diseases or conditions linked to alcohol consumption, such as chronic liver disease or pancreatitis.
