News

Welcome decrease in hospital admissions - but alcohol harm remains pervasive

Statistics published today (27/1/2026) by Public Health Scotland show that in 2024/25 there were 29,430 alcohol-related hospital admissions (stays) in Scotland.

This represents a 9% decrease in hospital admissions compared to the previous year (32,352).

Strong health inequalities persist within the data, with men remaining twice as likely to be hospitalised for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol and those in our most deprived areas remaining six times more likely to be hospitalised.

Responding to the figures Aidan Collins, Involvement and Policy Manager at Alcohol Focus Scotland said:

“Following a decrease in alcohol specific deaths, we welcome the news that 2024/25 saw a decrease in the number of people hospitalised for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol.

“However, these nonetheless startling numbers represent a wide range of health conditions and injuries affecting people across Scotland due to alcohol, which are by no means limited to dependent drinkers.

“Alcohol remains at centre stage in Scottish culture, with powerful forces pushing hard to expand its social and cultural footprint including via selling alcohol at football stadia.

“Given the breadth of harm we continue to see, we should be drawing lines in the sand rather than nudging open the floodgates.  We should be questioning alcohol’s role in our culture, not celebrating it.

“In the run up to the election, we’d like to see all parties commit to our roadmap to reducing alcohol harm – including rolling out early detection of liver disease, investing in treatment and support and backing strong preventative measures like alcohol marketing restrictions and automatic uprating of MUP.