Wives in drink danger

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 8

Wives in drink danger

| NZPA-Reuter London ■ The British National i Council on Alcoholism has published a list of wives' | who, because of their hus-| I bands' occupations, are most ■ likely to die of drink-related ! diseases. Topping the list are the i wives of financial brokers, tavern keepers, and garage! proprietors. The council bases its findings on cases of cirrhosis of the liver, a condition usually brought on by heavy consumption of alcohol. Stock brokers’ wives are eight times more likely to I die of it than the average (wife, publicans’ wives seven

i times, and garage proprie-i : tors’ wives and those of I I electrical engineers four, ; times. .1 The wives of deck engin- ’ eering officers, pilots, and' I textile workers face three t! times the risk and spouses I■ of general practitioners, serI vicemen, cooks, labourers, «! restaurateurs, and those in , i service and professional ; I sports all have about average mortality rates from • cirrhosis of the liver. i The mortality tables also ’ show that these women are • more prone to accidents, suicide, and other health aam- ; age such as tumours, the i council says. ! The occupations meni tioned all contain high risk

of alcoholism for the husbands engaged in them, and the council report notes evidence that these men are also in danger of a range of accidents and diseases associated with too much drink.

Fifteen occupational groups examined showed high incidence of tumours, ulcers, gastritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure. The report says that the estimated number of alcoholics in Britain 20 years ago was between 86,000 and 100,000. The latest estimate from the Office of Population Census Surveys is 600,000 although the population has risen only a few million.