picture of not just how much a client drinks, but also how frequently.
“ In our previous piece on alcohol and underwriting, we explained how we assess risk based on declared consumption,” says Bray.
“ It’ s worth revisiting that article for a reminder of the questions we ask about alcohol, why drinking patterns matter and when we would start to apply premium loadings. That article also looked at the link between alcohol, mental health conditions and drug use. This time, we’ re focusing on some of the more insidious effects – like how alcohol can gradually raise blood pressure or interfere with glucose regulation, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.”
“ We’ re worried about all these different types of risks. Some of them can be eminently treatable – reducing alcohol lowers blood pressure and reduces risk of diabetes. We’ d rather know about all these risk factors when underwriting customers than find out at claims stage.”
Consumption and outcomes
Office for National Statistics data shows a stark upward trend in alcohol-specific deaths since lockdown in 2020. Deaths from alcohol-specific causes- such as alcoholic liver disease, mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of alcohol, and accidental alcohol poisoning- increased by 70 % between 2002 and 2022. Notably, around half of that rise occurred between 2019 and 2022 alone.
This reflects a wider pattern observed across north-western Europe over recent decades, where‘ alcohol-attributable’ causes of death – including various cancers, high blood pressure, heart rhythm abnormalities like atrial fibrillation and diabetes – have become increasingly common. While these links are well recognised by health professionals, they are often overlooked by the general population.
One of the most striking aspects of the statistics is the demographic split in alcohol consumption and related outcomes. In 2022, 30 % of men exceeded the recommended weekly limit for alcohol intake – twice the proportion of women, at 15 %. While men still accounted for around two-thirds of alcoholspecific deaths, the death rate among women has increased significantly in recent years.
Frequent drinking is also more common in older age groups than many advisers might expect. More than 10 % of people over 45 reported drinking on five or more days per week in 2022. Meanwhile, among those under 25, twice as many women as men reported drinking this frequently.
“ We’ re seeing a pattern with women and alcohol that we haven’ t seen before,” says Bray.“ While men may still be more prone to binge drinking, women are increasingly drinking more regularly during the week. That‘ wine o’ clock’ culture may seem innocuous, but over time it will be contributing to rising levels of alcohol-related and alcoholattributable claims across the industry.”
There is also a clear socioeconomic gradient in drinking habits – one that challenges stereotypes. In 2021, men in the least deprived areas were 11 percentage points more likely to consume over 14 units of alcohol per week, compared to those in the most deprived areas. The same pattern was observed among women, with a 9 % difference.
“ We often assume that the greatest harm from alcohol occurs in the most deprived communities – and it’ s true that alcohol-related death rates are highest there” says Bray.“ But when it comes to overall consumption, it’ s the more affluent groups who are more likely to exceed recommended limits, probably because they can afford to buy alcohol more regularly. It’ s a reminder that advisers shouldn’ t assume lower alcohol-related health risks just because someone has a higher socioeconomic status,” she adds.
A silent killer
One area where advisers can play a role in helping customers recognise risk is high blood pressure – sometimes called a‘ silent killer’. While many people think of blood pressure as potentially genetic or lifestyle-related, alcohol is a major contributor.
“ The mechanisms are complex, but we know that alcohol stimulates the nervous system, increases heart rate and narrows blood vessels, all of which
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