Scotland is facing a deepening public health crisis, with alcohol-specific deaths reaching a grim milestone of 1,277 in 2023. This marks the highest annual toll in 15 years and represents a staggering 25% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Experts believe the rise is because people drank more during the pandemic and there were fewer alcohol treatment services available.
Despite alcohol harm being recognised as a public emergency alongside drug deaths three years ago, the Scottish Government has not yet delivered a focused emergency response. Over 30 organisations have called on ministers to act urgently, proposing robust interventions such as a new Public Health Supplement on alcohol retailers. This measure, modelled on a similar scheme that raised £95 million between 2012 and 2015, could now generate an estimated £57 to £70 million per year. The money raised would be used to support early help programmes and expand vital alcohol treatment services.
Audit Scotland has criticised the lack of action, highlighting the disparity in government efforts. While drug-related harm received a significant boost through a dedicated £250 million National Mission, alcohol-specific initiatives remain underfunded. For example, only 7% of Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) conducted alcohol death audits in 2022/23, despite alcohol claiming more lives than drugs.
If no decisive action is taken, projections indicate a heartbreaking future, with 7,500 more deaths and 70,000 additional hospitalisations linked to alcohol misuse by 2040. This would burden the NHS with an estimated £82.2 million in hospital costs alone. Among the solutions outlined in the briefing is the introduction of non-invasive liver screening technologies, such as FibroScan, to detect alcohol-related liver disease earlier. Currently, three-quarters of patients are diagnosed too late for effective intervention, but targeted screenings could drastically reduce hospital admissions and fatalities.
Other proposals include increased funding for alcohol support services, from counselling and rehabilitation to peer-led recovery initiatives. Advocates are also pushing for a comprehensive National Needs Assessment to identify gaps in service availability and demand across Scotland, ensuring support reaches all communities, including rural areas where access remains limited.
The briefing delivers an urgent challenge to the Scottish Government ahead of the 2025-26 Budget. By implementing a Public Health Supplement and investing in alcohol services, Scotland could prevent thousands of preventable deaths, reduce strain on healthcare services, and tackle one of the nation’s most pressing public health emergencies.
Source: Alcohol Focus Scotland
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