Alcohol and cocaine are among the most frequently used substances in the UK, but their impact on society is very different. Alcohol is legal and widely accepted as part of everyday social life, whereas cocaine remains an illegal drug that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Both can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. However, alcohol causes widespread harm because so many people consume it, while cocaine poses significant risks to a smaller number of users.
How Common Is Alcohol Use?
Alcohol is still the most commonly used substance in the UK. In England, 81% of adults said they had consumed alcohol within the last year, and almost half (48%) reported drinking at least once a week. In simple terms, around four in every five adults drink alcohol to some extent. (NHS England Digital)
With an adult population of approximately 57 million people, this equates to around 46 million adults drinking alcohol each year.
Estimated Levels of Alcohol Problems
The majority of people who drink alcohol do not become dependent on it. However, because alcohol consumption is so widespread, even a small percentage of people developing unhealthy drinking habits results in a substantial number requiring support.
| Category | Approximate Number | % of Drinkers | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous drinking | 10-12 million | 20-25% | 1 in 4-5 drinkers |
| Harmful drinking | 1.5-2 million | 3-4% | 1 in 25-30 drinkers |
| Alcohol dependence / addiction | 600,000-900,000 | 1-2% | 1 in 50-75 drinkers |
| Receive specialist treatment | ~100,000 | <0.5% | 1 in 450 drinkers |
These figures highlight a significant treatment gap. Millions of people are drinking at levels that can damage their health, but only a relatively small number seek or receive specialist support. During 2024/25, 147,713 adults accessed alcohol-related treatment services in England. This included 99,955 people receiving treatment for alcohol alone and 47,758 receiving support for alcohol alongside other substances. (House of Commons Library)
Deaths Linked to Alcohol
Because alcohol is legal and socially accepted, the scale of harm it causes is often overlooked. Despite this, the number of deaths linked to alcohol remains substantial.
In 2024, there were 9,809 alcohol-specific deaths registered across the UK. These include deaths directly caused by alcohol, such as alcoholic liver disease, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related mental and behavioural disorders. (Office for National Statistics)
The overall impact is even greater when wider alcohol-related deaths are considered. These are cases where alcohol contributed to a person’s death but was not necessarily the sole cause. In England during 2023, there were 8,276 alcohol-specific deaths and an estimated 22,644 alcohol-related deaths. (Alcohol Change UK)
How Common Is Cocaine Use?
Official figures estimate that around 700,000 people in England and Wales use cocaine each year. However, this may not reflect the true scale of use, as surveys rely on individuals accurately reporting illegal activity, which many people may choose not to disclose.
Alternative research, including wastewater analysis, suggests cocaine use could be significantly higher. Estimates indicate that between 1.5 and 3 million people in the UK may use cocaine annually, with around 2 million often used as a central estimate. This would mean approximately one in every 20 to 35 adults could be using cocaine each year.
Deaths Linked to Cocaine
The number of deaths involving cocaine has increased considerably over recent years. In England and Wales, 1,118 cocaine-related deaths were registered in 2023. By 2024, this figure had risen to 1,279, marking the 13th consecutive annual increase. (Office for National Statistics)
Many cocaine-related deaths involve multiple substances. One particularly dangerous combination is cocaine and alcohol. When these substances are used together, the body produces a chemical called cocaethylene, which remains in the body for longer and places additional stress on the heart and liver.
Alcohol and Cocaine: A Comparison
| Substance | Estimated Users | Deaths | Rough Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | ~46 million adult drinkers | 9,809 alcohol-specific deaths in the UK | Consumed by most adults and responsible for significant population-level harm |
| Cocaine | ~1.5-3 million estimated users | 1,279 deaths involving cocaine in England and Wales | Used by far fewer people, but associated harms continue to increase |
| Alcohol-related wider harm | Tens of millions exposed | 22,644 alcohol-related deaths in England | Alcohol contributes to many more deaths than alcohol-specific figures alone show |
What This Tells Us
Although alcohol and cocaine are very different substances, both have a serious impact on individuals and wider society. Alcohol creates a greater overall burden because of how widely it is consumed, while the dangers associated with cocaine are increasing as its availability, purity and combined use with alcohol become more common.
The statistics also demonstrate that a large number of people who would benefit from support never receive it. Seeking help early can reduce the risk of long-term physical, psychological and social harm.
At The Wellbourne Clinic, we provide support for people experiencing alcohol dependency, cocaine addiction or the combined use of both substances through medically supervised detoxification, rehabilitation programmes and personalised recovery support.
