Liverpool has one of the highest risks of alcohol-related harm in the country, new data show, prompting calls for employers to address the role of drinking culture in staff wellbeing and productivity.
An analysis by addiction treatment provider Rehab Today examined six alcohol-related factors across 110 UK locations, including deaths, hospital admissions and potential years of life lost. Each area was given a risk score out of 100, creating a national index of alcohol misuse risk.
The results reveal a stark regional divide. North Tyneside topped the list with a risk score of 92.6, followed by Sunderland, Gateshead, Southampton and Northumberland. St Helens, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stoke-on-Trent, County Durham and Liverpool completed the top 10.
Liverpool recorded nearly 60 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 people and almost 600 hospital admissions for alcohol-related conditions. Another Merseyside area, St Helens, ranked sixth with similarly high rates of under-18 admissions.
At the opposite end of the scale, Bromley in south London had the lowest risk score at just 7.71, followed by Barnet, Sutton, Richmond upon Thames and Croydon. Several London boroughs recorded fewer than half the alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations of the worst-affected regions.
“These findings show the disparities in alcohol-related harm across the UK,” Rehab Today Managing Director and Founder Perry Clayman said. “The concentration of high-risk areas in the North East may be due to social and economic factors that may contribute to increased alcohol consumption and related health issues.”
He said that “[e]arly intervention and accessible treatment options are essential for addressing these disparities” and added that “[c]ommunities with higher risk factors need targeted support and resources to combat alcohol misuse and reduce its impact on public health”.
Health inequalities have long been linked to economic disadvantage, with alcohol misuse both a symptom and a driver of poor wellbeing. Experts say these community-level challenges inevitably spill into workplaces, affecting attendance, morale and long-term health outcomes.
Drinking and the Modern Workplace
Although fewer people drink regularly than a decade ago, alcohol remains embedded in many professional settings. From informal team drinks to client entertainment, the expectation to participate in alcohol-centred socialising continues to shape workplace culture.
Observers say this can normalise heavy drinking and mask underlying stress. In sectors with high pressure or long hours, such as hospitality, sales and finance, the line between social drinking and dependency can blur. Employers may notice the effects only through sickness absence, poor concentration or strained relationships between staff.
Health professionals warn that these patterns are often reinforced by managerial norms. New recruits may feel obliged to join in after-work events to be seen as “team players”, while non-drinkers risk exclusion from informal networking opportunities. Such dynamics can undermine inclusion and wellbeing policies that otherwise aim to support diverse teams.
From Social Habit to Wellbeing Issue
Workplace wellbeing initiatives increasingly recognise the link between mental health, stress and substance use. But while mental health support has expanded in recent years, few employers address alcohol misuse directly.
According to wellbeing advisers, this may reflect lingering discomfort about tackling addiction or assumptions that alcohol is a personal, not professional, issue. Yet public health agencies estimate that alcohol costs the UK economy £27.4 billion each year through lost productivity, absence and healthcare spending.
In areas with high regional harm, these costs are likely to be greatest. Employers operating in northern cities may face higher risks of absenteeism and long-term sickness related to alcohol-linked conditions. Without proactive policies, staff in recovery or struggling with dependency may avoid seeking help for fear of stigma.
Supporting Staff and Reducing Risk
Specialists recommend that employers treat alcohol misuse as part of a broader wellbeing strategy rather than a disciplinary matter. Training managers to recognise early signs of dependency, promoting confidential employee assistance programmes and signposting local addiction services can all help staff access support.
Some organisations have begun rethinking alcohol’s role in social events by offering low- or no-alcohol options, rotating activities away from pubs and ensuring attendance is never expected. Others are reviewing health benefits and flexible policies to include recovery support or counselling.
Rehab Today’s findings also highlight the importance of prevention. In high-risk regions, partnership between local authorities, businesses and health providers can ensure employees receive consistent messages about safe drinking and access to early help.
As wellbeing remains central to employee engagement and retention, experts say addressing alcohol culture is no longer optional. A healthier relationship with drinking, they argue, begins not with abstinence campaigns but with workplace environments that promote balance, inclusion and psychological safety.
Employers seeking to improve wellbeing may therefore find that reducing alcohol’s visibility in workplace life — and providing practical pathways to support — benefits both their people and their business performance.