By Graeme Strachan

DEATHS FROM alcohol-related liver disease in Tayside and Fife have more than doubled in just nine years—well above the Scottish average.

There were fresh calls last night for a “radical” approach to the country’s relationship with alcohol, including earlier intervention for those at risk of developing problems.

The shock figures show 67 deaths related to liver failure brought about by alcohol misuse in Tayside and Fife in 2005, compared to 27 in 1997—a rise of almost 150%.

Deaths from alcoholic liver disease have risen 85% across Scotland, from 527 in 1997 to 976 in 2005.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said, “This year-on-year rise in alcoholic liver disease deaths shows just how far we have to go in tackling Scotland’s problem drinking culture, especially as the European trend is going in the opposite direction.

“We hope to see more funding and support for brief interventions—where people who are at risk of developing an alcohol problem are identified and given advice on cutting down their drinking at an early stage— included in the Scottish Executive’s updated plan for action on alcohol problems.”

Between 1997 and 2005, alcoholic liver disease killed a total of 484 people in Tayside—241 in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison argued that a radical approach is needed to address the problem, including tackling the availability of cheap alcohol and raising awareness of the health risks.

“These figures confirm the impact that alcohol is having on our society with such a huge rise in alcohol-related deaths due to liver disease,” said Ms Robison, the SNP’s health spokeswoman.

“It’s yet more evidence of our rather unhealthy relationship with alcohol and we need to challenge that.

“Liver specialists are seeing younger and younger cases of liver disease. It’s a worrying trend and we need to take a radical approach if we’re going to reverse it.

“The SNP has already put forward a whole range of measures including the need for better rehabilitation and counselling services.”

The massive rise in fatal cases of alcoholic liver disease across the country was revealed by the Scottish Executive in an answer to a parliamentary question by SNP MSP Christine Grahame.

Between 1997 and 2005 the disease killed 7150 people in Scotland’s hospitals—including 58 in Perth, 93 in Dunfermline and 92 in Kirkcaldy.

In Dundee, 14 people died of the disease at Ninewells Hospital in 1997, with death rates increasing year on year to a high of 42 in 2003, before dropping slightly to 41 in 2004 and 32 in 2005.

Other figures obtained by Ms Grahame show the number of Scots being diagnosed with a specific alcohol-related condition in acute hospitals reached an all-time record of 41,250 in 2005, a rise of 32% since 1997.

Ms Grahame said, “The rising trend in liver-related alcohol deaths is being seen across all age groups but the trend is particularly prevalent amongst women where clearly far more focused work needs to be done.

“I think the efforts so far by Scottish ministers to tackle alcohol misuse have been, frankly, hopeless and these figures sadly bear testament to that.”

An Executive spokeswoman said all key statistics on alcohol reinforce the urgent need for action—by government, by individuals and by producers and retailers.

“We are playing our part in tackling the causes and consequences of alcohol misuse, with the launch of a robust communications campaign to encourage people to take responsibility for their drinking and not to put pressure on friends to take an alcohol drink when part of a round,” she said.