News

AFS response to alcohol hospital admissions statistics

Statistics published yesterday (17/12/2024) by Public Health Scotland show that in 2023/24 there were 32,301 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland.

This represents a 3.5% increase in hospital admissions compared to the previous year (31,206).

There remain strong inequalities between the sexes, with men twice as likely as women to be admitted to hospital for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol.

Strong social inequalities also persist, with those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland six times more likely to be admitted to hospital for alcohol related conditions than those in the least deprived areas.

Responding to the figures, Laura Mahon, Deputy CEO of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:

“With alcohol deaths having reached a 15 year high in 2023, it is not surprising that we have seen an increase in alcohol related hospital admissions in 2023/24. This adds to a bleak picture of the direction of travel for alcohol harm in Scotland since the pandemic.

“We have been calling for an emergency response to what the Scottish Government has described as a public health emergency; and continue to be frustrated at the slow pace of action.

“Against a backdrop of rising deaths and now hospital admissions, in the past few months we have seen a rejection of the proposed reintroduction of the public health supplement on alcohol retailers in the draft Scottish budget and a delay to action on alcohol marketing.

“Furthermore, we have seen Audit Scotland agree with us that the National Mission on Drugs has led to reduced focus on tackling alcohol harm. They have also recently warned of unsustainable pressures on our NHS and said that the Government lacks a coherent plan to reduce these pressures.

“We urge the Scottish Government to set a new year resolution of once more getting serious about tackling alcohol harm in Scotland, and demonstrating the leadership they have previously shown with groundbreaking policies like minimum unit pricing.”