At nearly 992 deaths, upward trend began in June and outpaced previous years. 4:11 pm, Apr. 15, 2021 × Fully alcohol-attributable deaths in Minnesota, 2000-2020. Source: Minnesota Department of Health ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rising alcohol consumption combined with soaring unemployment and isolation under COVID-19 lockdowns has been a health concern throughout the pandemic, and new data suggest those concerns were valid. In 2020 nearly one thousand Minnesotans died from fully alcohol related causes — chronic liver disease or acute alcohol poisoning — according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Health. “The deaths of so many Minnesotans from alcohol is tragic and preventable,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm in a statement.