Why is this National Indicator important?
Tackling alcohol-related harm is one of the Scottish Government's key public health priorities. Alcohol-related admissions give a measure of the amount of harm to physical and mental health that alcohol misuse is causing. Not only is there evidence of the increasingly negative impact alcohol misuse is having on the physical and mental health of individuals, there is also evidence of its effect on wider outcomes such as employment, crime and families.
What will influence this National Indicator?
Alcohol misuse is a complex issue affecting all sectors of society. A wide range of social, cultural and health-related factors influence alcohol-related hospital admissions. These include: accessibility and availability; enforcement of existing drinking laws; education and awareness; early intervention; and the availability and use of appropriate services. All of which are compounded by issues such as deprivation, mental health issues and homelessness.
What is the Government's role?
To take forward the actions in our long-term strategic approach for tackling alcohol misuse - "Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A framework for Action". This includes action on accessibility and availability of alcohol, raising public awareness of the negative consequences of excessive drinking and stricter enforcement of existing laws. Significant investment in health improvement initiatives, including the roll out of screening and alcohol interventions across a range of healthcare settings.
Given the link between consumption and harm, and evidence that affordability is one of the drivers of increased consumption, addressing price is an important element of any long-term strategy to tackle alcohol misuse. We believe that a minimum price per unit of alcohol would be the most effective and efficient way to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland and that is why we published the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) (Bill) on 1 November 2011. A 45p per unit minimum price, which was proposed in the last Parliament, is estimated to result in fewer hospital admissions in year 1 by 1,200 and 4,200 per year by year 10.
How is Scotland performing?
Rates of alcohol related hospital admissions have for the most part shown an annual increase over the last decade but decreased in the last two years. In 2009/10 the rate of alcohol related hospital admissions was 709 per 100,000 population. This represents a 7.1% decrease in admissions from 2008/09, when the rate was 763 per 100,000 but represents a 23.1% increase since 1997/98, when the rate was 576 per 100,000 population.
Note: Due to a change in the methodology used to calculate alcohol related hospital admissions, figures for years previous to 2008/09 have been revised. These changes are minor and do not represent any substantial difference to the trend over time.
Note: Figures for 2009/10 are provisional.
The data for this chart is available at the bottom of the page
Source: Information Services Division Scotland
Criteria for recent change
This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 10 per 100,000 of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. A decrease of 10 per 100,000 or more suggests the position is improving; whereas an increase of 10 per 100,000 or more suggests the position is worsening.
Further Information
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Scotland Performs Technical Note
Who are our partners?
NHS Scotland
Local Authorities
Related Strategic Objectives
Healthier
Safer and Stronger
Smarter
Wealthier and Fairer
Greener