Report shows Scots are UK's heaviest drinkers
The depth of Scotland's drinking problem has been revealed in a report that shows Scots drink an average of 100 pints of beer more each year than other Britons.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 21.07.10
- Published online : 21.07.10 @ 11.37am
The report also examined alcohol sales in the five years to 2009 and found Scots prefer drinking at home rather than the pub with two-thirds of all drink sales taking place in shops or supermarkets.
This prompted more calls from health specialists and the Scottish Government for minimum pricing. NHS Scotland's director of public health science Dr Laurence Gruer said raising the price of alcohol in off-licences would cut down on excessive drinking at home.
"We know there are strong links between lower price and increased consumption, and between increased consumption and more alcohol-related problems of all sorts," said Dr Gruer.
"In recent years, alcohol from off-sales has become relatively cheaper, encouraging many more people to drink harmful amounts. For example, at 20p a unit, just £4.40 will buy enough cider to exceed the maximum recommended weekly amount for a man, or £3 for a woman.
"These findings underline the need for action on cheap off-sales in Scotland. It's by no means the only action needed, but the research clearly shows that nothing else is as effective as raising the price of alcohol."
The Scottish Government is proposing a minimum price per unit of alcohol in legislation being considered by parliament, although the measure has already been rejected by Labour and Conservative MSPs.
Public health minister and Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said, "The link between price, consumption and harm is clear. It's no coincidence that over the past 20 years consumption has soared, while supermarket prices have plummeted in real terms, resulting in an average of 115 alcohol-related hospital admissions every day and a doubling of our death rates since the early 1990s.
"That's why we're proposing decisive action to tackle Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol."
Frankie Claridge, director of Tayside Council on Alcohol, said minimum pricing is only a start and the Scottish Government must be prepared to take on supermarkets which can sell drink cheaply.
"They've got to be stronger. Minimum pricing will definitely help but it is not going to work standing alone," she said. "There has to be a lot of measures put in place."
Add a comment