CHANGES IN LICENSING LAW IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND ALCOHOL-RELATED MORTALITY

Objective-To examine trends in alcohol-related mortality before and af ter the 1988 amendments to the Licensing Act in England & Wales. Desig n-A population-based study where the population of England & Wales was 'exposed' to a change in licensing law and the population of Scotland was 'unexposed'. Setting-Great Britain. Mortality data for England & Wales were collected for five ICD categories of alcohol-related illnes s over twelve years (1980-1991) and compared with control data obtaine d from Scotland. Results-Mortality rates from chronic liver disease an d cirrhosis (ICD 571), pancreatitis (ICD 577) and alcohol dependence o r psychosis (ICD 303 & ICD 291) appeared to be unaffected by the exten sion of opening hours. Deaths from alcoholic poisoning (ICD E860) in E ngland & Wales increased slightly after 1988, but this coincided with a large decrease in Scottish figures, and is therefore difficult to in terpret unequivocally. Conclusion-Overall, there was no clear evidence of a significant increase in alcohol-related mortality following intr oduction of the new licensing laws, but more definitive conclusions ma y be drawn following further experience and research.