Scots drink the equivalent of 125 bottles of wine each per year, study reveals
By
Simon Johnson, 22 Feb 2009
Scots consume the alcoholic equivalent of 125 bottles of wine each every year and are near the top of a new international drinking league table.
A new Scottish Executive study has found people north of the Border drank nearly 50million litres of pure alcohol in 2007, an average of 11.8 litres for everyone aged 16 and above.
The total is equal to 520 pints of four per cent proof beer, almost 500 pints of five per cent lager, 42 bottles of vodka or 125 bottles of wine.
This level of consumption puts Scotland eighth in the World Health Organisation's league table of alcohol sales and is almost two litres more than in England and Wales, who are 15th.
Another set of new statistics reveal the alcohol death toll in Scotland is rising, with women north of the Border more likely to die from drink-related diseases than English men.
But the death rate in parts of Glasgow is more than ten times as high as the national average for men and nearly four times as high for women.
SNP ministers published the consumption figures ahead of an announcement next month of a series of controversial measures which they hope will reduce the country's binge drinking epidemic.
As revealed in last Friday's Daily Telegraph, they want to introduce minimum pricing but are set to scale back other proposals over fears they will deepen the economic depression.
Dr Laurence Gruer, director of public health science with NHS Scotland, said: "Estimates suggest around 50 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women may be drinking above weekly limits.
"The consequences are only too apparent in our hospital wards, emergency departments and on our streets."
Official guidelines state men should not consume more than 21 units per week for men and 14 per women.
But Scotland's total alcohol consumption is enough for every single adult to exceed this limit every week of the year.
Luxembourg, with a figure of 15.6 litres per person, tops the league table followed by Ireland (13.7), Hungary (13.6), Moldova (13.2), the Czech Republic (13), Croatia (12.3), Germany (12) then Scotland. The English and Welsh each consume an average of 9.9 litres of pure alcohol each per year.
Meanwhile, experts from Glasgow University and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have revealed almost 1,500 Scots are dying every year from drink, two-thirds of whom are men.
They published an 'alcohol death map' that showed across Scotland the drink-related death rate stands at 38 per 100,000 people for men and 16 per 100,000 for women. This compares with 15 for English men.
But in the Ibrox area of Glasgow, where the problem is worst, this figure rises to 176 per 100,000 for men and 58.9 per 100,000 for women.
Among the SNP's proposals are a ban on promotions, such as two-for-one deals, and increasing the minimum age for buying alcohol in shops to 21.
Mr MacAskill is also keen to impose a minimum price of 35p per unit of alcohol, a level that would see the cost of cheap lager increase but would leave the cost of Buckfast fortified wine unchanged.
However, a plan to tax pubs, clubs and off-licences, looks set to be shelved amid fears that placing another burden on business would intensify the recession.
Scots eighth on alcohol consumption world league table
The Herald - 23-02-2009
Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world, sales figures released by the Scottish Government reveal.
Statistics show that nearly 50 million litres of pure alcohol were consumed in Scotland in 2007 - the equivalent of 11.8 litres for every person aged over 16 - putting the nation above Spain, Italy and France in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) league table of alcohol sales.
The figure is equal to every Scot over 16 drinking 570 pints of normal-strength beer, 125 bottles of wine or 42 bottles of vodka, and enough for every adult to exceed the sensible drinking guidelines for men of 21 units of alcohol per week.
The figures come as a separate report claims almost 1500 Scots are dying every year because of drink and that the country's women are now at a greater risk of dying from alcohol-related disease than men in England.
Experts from Glasgow University and the Medical Research Council compiled details of the alcohol-related mortality rates for all parts of Scotland and found that on average 999 men in Scotland and 448 women die from alcohol-related causes every year.
The rate was highest in Glasgow's Ibrox area, with drink-related death rates are 176 per 100,000 for men and 58.9 per 100,000 for women.
Most of the areas with very high alcohol-related death rates are in the Greater Glasgow region. Across the country the drink-related death rate stands at 38 per 100,000 people for men and 16 per 100,000 for women.
Reports at the weekend also re-emphasised Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's statements to The Herald last December that the economic downturn would impact upon plans to force pubs, clubs and off-sales to contribute towards the cost of policing.
It was claimed yesterday that this, along with the proposal for shops to install separate check-outs for alcohol sales, has now been shelved, although Mr MacAskill has reportedly reiterated his determination to press ahead with a ban on two-for-one promotions and to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in supermarkets.
According to the consumption figures, market data which was analysed for the Scottish Government, the amount of alcohol drank in Scotland is higher than England and Wales, where those aged 16 and over drank an average of 9.9 litres of pure alcohol a year.
Luxembourg has the highest level, at 15.6 litres per person, while Ireland is second with 13.7 litres per person and Hungary is third at 13.6 litres per person.
It is also significantly higher than consumption rates in Scandinavian countries, where the price of alcohol is more expensive and the sale of drink is more restricted and is even higher than Russia, where alcohol-related deaths have cut the average life expectancy for men to 59.
Claiming the Scottish Government would "outline the way forward shortly", Public Health Minister Shona Robison said there was "little doubt" that the level of alcohol consumption in Scotland was "largely a consequence of the big fall in alcohol's relative price".
She said: "When it comes to alcohol consumption, Scotland is worryingly close to the top of the international league table.
"Sales data from the alcohol industry itself indicates that we're buying and drinking much more than people in the other UK countries and most of the rest of the world.
"Health experts are now agreed that alcohol misuse is the most pressing public health issue facing Scotland and we have to get to grips with it."
Dr Laurence Gruer, the director of public health science with NHS Health Scotland, added: "These figures put Scotland's alcohol misuse problem in context.
"Taking these figures alongside Scottish Health Survey estimates suggests that around 50% of men and 30% of women may be drinking above weekly limits.
"The consequences of this level of consumption are only too apparent in our hospital wards, emergency departments and on our streets."
Dr Richard Mitchell, who carried out the work on alcohol-related deaths, said the study showed there were "remarkable differences from place to place in alcohol-related deaths" and called for "strong and radical action by the Scottish Government".
He added: "It is interesting that the areas in which alcohol-related deaths are a particular problem are largely the same for men and women. The results suggest to us that both men and women are vulnerable to the social, economic and cultural pressures which can make people drink too much."
The researchers obtained records for alcohol-related deaths between 2000 and 2005 from the General Register Office for Scotland, divided Scotland into 144 areas, and then calculated the death rates for men and women in these areas.
But Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "The SNP's plans to tackle alcohol problems in Scotland have been widely criticised and hugely delayed.
"It's hard to imagine how after almost two years of government their key justice policy could be in a bigger mess."
See also:
No need to bring the booze back to Scottish football
Booze and blades
Scotland's shame
Scotland the 'most dangerous' country - UN Report
Scottish alcohol abuse
|
Readers please email comments
to: editorial AT martinfrost.ws including
full name
Return to Home Page |
||
| Note: martinfrost.ws contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner. |