News

Source - BBC News 31/08/11

Adults in Scotland are consuming 23% more alcohol than adults in England and Wales, official figures have revealed.

The NHS Health Scotland report said that percentage represented the biggest difference recorded during the 17 years of measuring the gap.

Wine accounted for the largest rise in consumption, with sales more than doubling since the mid 1990s.

The other growth area was found to be in the sale of alcopops and ready-mixed drinks.

Sales of beer, cider and fortified wine have fallen and spirit sales have remained constant.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: "For too long Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol has gone unaddressed.

"These shock statistics show that the difference between alcohol consumption in Scotland and England and Wales is now at its highest rate for 17 years.

"This is a situation that must be tackled head on.

"The impact of excessive consumption is estimated to cost Scots £3.56bn each year. That's £900 for every adult.

"We have already taken bold action against this most pressing of problems. Our Alcohol Framework outlines a package of over 40 measures to reduce alcohol related harm."

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Alcohol Focus Scotland Response

This data confirms the shift towards home drinking in Scotland which is being fuelled by cheap supermarket alcohol.

Alcohol is now more affordable, more available and is more heavily marketed than at any time over the last thirty years. Alcohol is sold in supermarkets for pocket money prices, making it possible to exceed the recommended weekly limit for less than £5. If we want to address this, then the priority must be increased regulation of the off-sales sector, particularly supermarkets.

However, rather than get caught up trying to answer the complex question of ‘why Scots drink more than people in England’, our focus should be on what we are going to do to reverse this situation.

Alcohol has become so normalised that our children are growing up in an environment saturated with pro-alcohol messages.

For the health and well-being of everyone in Scotland robust action needs be taken to increase price, reduce the availability of alcohol and significantly reduce the amount of alcohol marketing that young people are exposed to.