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Under 40s risking serious health harm
23/02/2010
Scotland's culture of heavy and binge drinking is having an increasing impact on the health of younger people, according to statistics published today.
And the nation is also bucking the international trend for chronic liver disease. While most European countries have seen levels fall, rates in Scotland have almost trebled over the last 15 years.
The Alcohol Hospital Statistics and Liver Disease Statistics, which are published today by ISD Scotland, show:
- Scotland sees, on average, 115 hospital discharges per day due to alcohol misuse
- Alcohol-related discharges have increased by nine per cent over the past five years
- Alcohol-related discharges have increased by 22 per cent for 30-34 year olds and by 19 per cent for 35-39 year olds
- Scotland's rate of chronic liver disease almost trebled over the last 15 years - and continues to rise
- While death rates have been falling across most of Europe, they remain high in Scotland
- Chronic liver disease death rates amongst 30-39 year olds have risen almost five-fold since the mid 1980s
- Rates of hospital discharge for chronic liver disease among young Scottish women (25-29) has increased seven fold over the last 20 years.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"These shocking statistics make grim reading and provide yet more evidence that we must turn the tide of alcohol harm.
"Scotland's love affair with drink is well documented and we're taking radical and decisive action to tackle pocket-money prices which - as the World Health Organisation recognises - help to drive consumption and harm.
"Most worrying is the increase in alcohol-related problems among young people, who are putting themselves at risk of serious health problems. Alcohol is now around 70 per cent more affordable than it was in 1980 and, over the same period, consumption and alcohol-related harm have spiralled. These factors are not unrelated.
"Cheap alcohol is making a serious situation even worse. By linking price to product strength, minimum pricing will put an end to the sale of high-strength alcohol for less than the cost of bottled water.
"This will help to address the staggering cost to Scotland - both in economic terms and in terms of lost or blighted lives."
Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost Scotland around £3.6 billion per year, or £900 for every adult.
Proposals to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol were included in the Alcohol Bill which is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.
Research clearly shows that the greatest effect of a minimum price would be on heavy and young drinkers, who tend to choose higher-strength, lower-cost products.