News
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- Cross-Party Group Improving Scotland's health: 2021 and beyond October 2018
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- AFS welcomes minimum unit pricing for alcohol
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- Alcohol causes 3,700 deaths in Scotland every year
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- Quarter of Scots drink above guidelines
- Alcohol producers failing to inform public
- Concern over alcohol-related deaths
- We need to make it easier for people to drink less
- Worrying rise in alcohol-related deaths
- Minimum pricing will save lives
- Pocket money prices for alcohol continue
- Scotland's alcohol problem laid bare
- Cheap alcohol is costing Scotland dear
- One drink a day can increase breast cancer risk
- Poverty linked to increased harm from alcohol
- What next for reducing alcohol harm in Scotland?
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- Concern as funding for alcohol services cut
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- Scottish Government urged to curb alcohol marketing
- Consumers have the right to know health risks
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- SWA granted leave to appeal minimum pricing
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- Scottish Government receives European alcohol award
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- Half of alcohol being sold under 50p per unit
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- Minimum pricing can be implemented in Scotland
- Alcohol sold at pocket money prices
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- AFS welcomes revised alcohol consumption guidelines
- Emergency services face shocking levels of alcohol abuse
- Every child has the right to grow up safe from alcohol harm
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- New toolkit to help children affected by family alcohol problems
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- Sales increase underlines need for minimum pricing
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- New alcohol guidelines published
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- 82% of Scots agree drink driving is unacceptable
- Scotland's alcohol strategy - what next?
- Scotland leads way in evidence-based alcohol policy
- New report reveals impact of alcohol on emergency services
- Alcohol: a global concern
Worrying rise in alcohol-related deaths
Figures published today by National Records of Scotland show 1,265 people died because of alcohol last year; a 10% increase on the previous year.
This is the highest annual total since 2010, and the third largest annual increase in numbers. The 1,265 alcohol-related deaths in 2016 consisted of 867 male deaths and 398 female deaths.
Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said:
"It is tragic that 1,265 men and women in Scotland died because of alcohol last year; a 10% increase on the previous year. Behind these appalling statistics are real people - sons, daughters, husbands, wives, parents, friends and colleagues – who have died too young because of a substance that’s cheap, widely available and constantly promoted.
"Alcohol-related deaths are preventable. Increasing the price of the cheapest, strongest drinks through minimum unit pricing will reduce consumption and save hundreds of people’s lives, particularly those living in our poorest communities. As well as minimum pricing, we need to see bold and proportionate action from the Scottish Government in its forthcoming alcohol strategy. This must focus on reducing the widespread availability and marketing of alcohol to make it easier for people to drink less."