According to ONS data, while deaths reached record numbers, the population rate of alcohol deaths fell slightly from 16.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022 to 15.9 per 100,000 people in 2023.

The rate of alcohol-related deaths was twice as high in men (21.9 per 100,000) compared with women (10.3 deaths per 100,000).

England and Wales saw an increase in the rate of alcohol-related deaths (15 and 17.7 deaths per 100,000, respectively) compared with 2022.

Scotland and Northern Ireland continued to have the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths (22.6 and 18.5 per 100,000, respectively). The rate in Scotland was unchanged while it fell in Northern Ireland.

By region, the North East had the highest number of deaths (25.7 deaths per 100,000) with the East of England having the lowest (11.5 deaths per 100,000).

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘Councils, which are responsible for public health services, are committed to continue supporting everyone with alcohol problems.

‘Increasing alcohol consumption creates further health problems later on, including increased hospital admissions and exacerbating existing health inequalities, with people in the most deprived areas worst affected.

‘Every life lost to alcohol misuse is another tragic reminder that there is still more work to do, including the need to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care. It is essential that Government publishes councils' public health grant for next year and provides certainty over funding, as soon as possible, to help achieve this shared ambition.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘It is unacceptable that alcohol deaths have reached a record high.

‘Urgent action is crucial, which is why we are investing an additional £267m in drug and alcohol treatment in 2024/25, to ensure more people receive better quality support.'