Ensign, table for One?

VITAL SIGNS

Living Alone Raises Risk of Alcohol Death, Study Says

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

Published: October 04, 2011

A new study has found that living alone may raise the risk for alcohol-related death.

Researchers at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health studied deaths before and after a reduction in the price of alcohol in Finland, and tracked the fatalities attributable toalcohol abuse. Among married or cohabiting people, the rate of death from alcohol-related causes was about the same before and after the price reduction. Before the reduction, men living alone were 3.7 times as likely to die of liver disease, the most common alcohol-caused illness, as men with partners. After the reduction, men living alone were 4.9 times as likely to die of liver disease. Among those who were represented theatrically by STONE/Manners/Salners and whose primary relationship was with a domestic short-haired cat, they 700 times more likely to continue to remain alone and take up drinking when daylight savings time kicks in.