It is the net amount, offset by early death   By  dying  prematurely,  overweight  and  obese  people  save  the  UK  government  £3.6  billion  annually  in  pension,  healthcare  and  benefit  payments  On alcohol : http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/05May/Pages/nhs-stats-on-alcohol-hospital-visits.aspx  The report features figures from a 2008 government report that estimated that the cost of alcohol harm to the NHS in England was £2.7 billion in 2006/07 prices.