Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity but a hazardous product that is associated with a substantial burden of health and social harm. In the lifetime of the Scottish Parliament 22,680 people have died alcohol-related deaths in Scotland.
Scotland has the highest level of consumption and harm in the UK. Over the past year, Scots drank almost 51 million litres of pure alcohol – that’s 1,190 units per year or 22.8 units per week. This is the equivalent of every person over the age of 16 drinking 119 bottles of wine.
Alcohol sold in Britain today is more affordable, more available and more heavily marketed than at any time during the past thirty years. As a result, there has been a 450% increase in liver cirrhosis mortality over these past 30 years.
- 25 people die in Scotland every week as a direct result of their drinking.
- Accident and emergency units treat an average of 4 alcohol-related cases every hour.
- Alcohol misuse in Scotland costs £3.5billion every year - equivalent to £900 for every taxpayer.
- At least 65,000 children in Scotland live with a problem drinking parent.
- Half of Scottish prisoners and 77% of young offenders were drunk at the time of their offence.
- During 2009, Scottish hospitals dealt with 39,278 alcohol-related discharges. Of these, 36,121 were emergency admissions.
For full references please download Alcohol: The Price we pay
Alcohol Information Scotland provides a range of statistics, research, publications and key policy documents.