Scotland is still drinking dangerously, with new data showing adults are consuming over 50 percent more alcohol than the recommended safe weekly limit.
Public Health Scotland has released fresh figures revealing that the average adult who drinks is consuming 21.6 units per week, well above the 14-unit guideline recommended by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers.
And while overall alcohol sales have dipped slightly, Scotland continues to drink more than England and Wales.
The figures shine a harsh light on how drinking harms some parts of the country far more than others.
People living in Scotland’s most deprived areas are six times more likely to end up in hospital or die because of alcohol than those in the wealthiest parts.
Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, says the numbers are not only worrying, they are a warning.
“If current drinking patterns continue,” she said, “we’re looking at a 21 percent rise in alcohol-related disease by 2043.”
That would mean thousands more people suffering from serious conditions like liver disease, heart attacks, strokes and several forms of cancer.
She says we need bold, immediate action to shift the country’s direction.
Scotland has made some progress.
Minimum unit pricing, greater public awareness and a shift in drinking culture are all having an impact.
But the scale of the harm remains vast, and the solutions will need to go further.
The newly updated Alcohol Consumption and Harms dashboard reveals a clear picture of where change is needed most.
More people are drinking less, but those who drink heavily are still putting themselves at risk.
And when it comes to health outcomes, poverty is playing a devastating role.
The call from Public Health Scotland is clear.
The country must now tackle how alcohol is sold, how it is priced, and how it is promoted.
Communities must also be supported to talk openly about drinking and to access help early.
“None of this is inevitable,” says Dr Shivaji.
“With urgent and collective effort, we can change the future for Scotland.”
Every week of delay means more lives lost and more families affected.
Now is the time to act, not only to save lives but to build a healthier, more equal Scotland.
