THE North-East has the second highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in England for both men and women, according to new figures.

While death rates in recent years have stabilised, twice as many North-Easterners are suffering an alcohol-related death than 20 years ago.

Tragically, many of those deaths occur in young, working age people. Nationally, 43 per cent of males and 41 per cent of females who die from alcohol-related causes are below the age of 55.

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, said: “It’s especially saddening that so many people in England die from alcohol-related causes before they have reached the age of 55. Not only does this bring untold heartbreak for families, it has knock-on implications for the economy.

“While this latest data is shocking enough, these statistics are also a relatively conservative estimate. Recent figures from Public Health England indicate that nationally around 21,000 people die annually from alcohol-related causes, significantly higher than these Office of National Statistics estimates.

“It’s no coincidence that as death rates rise, cheap alcohol has continued to be more accessible.

“To save lives, we must make alcohol less affordable. People are dying because alcohol is far too cheap, it’s available at all hours of the day and night and it’s far too heavily promoted. Today’s ONS statistics are further evidence that a minimum unit price for alcohol is necessary.”

He added that a minimum price of at least 50p per unit “will make cheap, strong alcohol less affordable to the vulnerable, younger and heavier drinkers who are more likely to drink it and suffer the consequences”.

The number of male alcohol-related deaths in the North-East increased from 255 in 2012 to 277 in 2013 while female deaths increased from 150 to 153.