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Women warned as film publicist, 33, is killed by drinking with her clients
Terry Kirby and Peter Dominiczak11 Jun 2009
Doctors today issued a new warning to women on the hidden dangers of social drinking.
It came after the death of a 33-year-old film publicist, who developed liver disease because of the regular drinking she was doing as part of her job.
Emma Pycroft, head of publicity for Optimum Releasing, a leading British film distributor, was unaware of her condition and had not been ill, Westminster coroner's court heard yesterday.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said that she did not drink excessively but added that Miss Pycroft's regular consumption was likely to have caused the disease, which strikes unpredictably.
Experts said such cases were not uncommon and doctors have been warning for some time of a surge in alcohol-related diseases, particularly among middle-class wine drinkers.
Dr Gray Smith-Laing, consultant gastroenterologist at Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent, said: "It is very, very easy to drink enough to put yourself at risk, without paying too much attention.
"If you take wine, which is the popular choice for women these days, the glasses can be so big that one drink equates to one-third of a bottle.
"I think it would be very easy for somebody in this line of work to be drinking excessively in medical terms, and perhaps drinking more than they realised."
She said many people did not sit down with a calculator and tot up how much they were drinking.
The current government-recommended limit for women is 14 units a week, or between two and three units a day.
Many drinkers do not realise that one large glass of white wine, at 12 per cent alcohol content, can be three units.
Miss Pycroft collapsed at the home she shared with her partner, Mark Dinning, editor of Empire magazine, two months ago. She was taken to hospital but could not be saved.
Initially it was thought Miss Pycroft had suffered a heart attack but a post- mortem examination found that she had liver disease.
The inquest heard that her job and her previous employment at a public relations company had involved meeting clients and attending business events and parties.
At the time of her death she was on a career break after six years at Optimum Releasing.
In a tribute, Mr Dinning referred to Miss Pycroft's "incredible generosity and kindness" and described her as a hugely loved part of her own family, and his.
A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded at the inquest.
