By Steve Bargeton, political editor

FIFTEEN OF the top 20 of the UK’s worst areas for alcohol-related deaths are in Scotland, according to shocking figures released yesterday.

A council-by-council list of Britain’s drink-related death toll came from the Office of National Statistics as Health Minister Andy Kerr published another plan to tackle problem drinking north of the border.

And the latest statistics show problem drinking has got worse in Scotland since Labour came to power.

In 1997, six of the top 20 drunkest towns were in England—now there are just three.

In 1997, Dundee did not rank in the top 20. The latest figures—for 1998 to 2004—put the city at number five on the drink-related death toll.

Scottish council areas occupy the top seven slots in the drink death league table among men.

Glasgow is the worst of over 400 council areas named with neighbouring Inverclyde just behind.

On average, Scotland’s drink-related death rate is twice as bad as England’s.

Reacting last night, SNP health spokesman Shona Robison said, “These figures make highly disturbing reading for us all.

“It’s a national tragedy that Scotland’s record of alcohol related deaths is now twice as bad as anywhere else in the UK, and that the situation is worsening, not improving.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Nanette Milne said, “These stark statistics are the most visible consequence of the damage that excessive drinking can create—but behind the figures are real lives that have been destroyed and grieving families devastated.

“Society has clearly changed over the past two decades and we now see women drinking nearly as much as men. Sadly, this would suggest that the Lib-Lab pact’s strategy to tackle alcohol abuse isn’t making any real impact on the problem.”

The Executive is rolling out across the country a scheme piloted in Fife in which children are used to target licensed premises and try to buy drink.

Launching the new strategy to tackle alcohol abuse yesterday, Mr Kerr said, “One person in Scotland dies every six hours as a direct result of alcohol and deaths from liver cirrhosis are rising at an alarming rate.

Mr Kerr added, “The links between alcohol misuse, anti-social behaviour and violence are clear.

“This plan outlines a range of Government action, as part of a long-term process of cultural change.”

“Communities across Scotland are blighted by the problems associated with under-age drinking and rolling out test purchasing will give us a valuable tool in the fight against this.

“I know that the vast majority of retailers take their responsibility very seriously but we need to take action against the minority who sell alcohol without carrying out the proper checks.

“The findings of a report on the alcohol test purchasing pilot clearly show that the scheme can be carried out safely, fairly and effectively, and we now want to replicate that success across Scotland.”