Alcohol-related hospital admissions in Scotland fell by 11% in 2022-23 compared with the previous year, figures show.
Public Health Scotland data published on Tuesday showed 31,206 hospital stays last year, with 92% of such admissions treated in general acute hospitals and the remaining 8% in psychiatric hospitals.
But figures from 2021-22 showed there were 35,187 admissions in Scotland, with 94% general hospital stays and 6% psychiatric.
The latest figures showed the 2022-23 statistics were the equivalent of 577 per 100,000 of the population, compared with 652 per 100,000 in 2021-22.
And in the most recent year, men were 2.4 times more likely than women to be admitted to general acute hospitals for alcohol-related conditions than women.
This worked out at 749 stays compared with 315 per 100,000 of the population.
Those in the most deprived areas of Scotland were also seven times more likely to be admitted to general hospitals for alcohol-related conditions compared with their more affluent counterparts – 849 patients compared with 127 per 100,000.
Both gender and deprivation statistics are patterns which have been seen across the last decade.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is positive to see an 11% reduction in alcohol-related hospital admissions, but we know more work has to be done to tackle Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol.
“Reducing alcohol and drug deaths is a top priority for the Scottish Government and we are treating both of these issues as public health emergencies.
“We want to make sure people have access to support when and where they need it – which is why last year, we provided a record £112 million of funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships.
“This funding has helped support pilots of new and innovative approaches to alcohol treatment such as the Managed Alcohol Programme pilot in Glasgow.
“Research commended by internationally renowned public health experts estimates that our world-leading minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities.
“The evaluation found the largest estimated reductions in deaths and hospital admissions, during the study period, wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.”