Alcohol dependence in British men is a problem, new evidence has suggested. The research discovered that approximately two-thirds of the total number of alcohol-related deaths in 2008 were males with 5,999 deaths, compared to 3,032 in women. Alcohol Concern's chief executive Don Shenker stated he believes that the rise in problems can be attributed to an escalation in people's consumption levels. He said: "These deaths [are] tragic and avoidable.

They are all the more shocking by the government's lack of action in tackling the cheap price of alcohol. "Mr Shenker added that there is a wealth of evidence demonstrating that cut-price booze is the main reason behind the increase in UK drinking.

The findings were published by the Office for National Statistics, which also found that more people died in 2008 from the substance than did in the previous year - while a general pattern of increase has developed since 1992. Posted by Elliot Sherwood