There is clear evidence that as alcohol use increases so does the risk of a range of physical and mental health harms.
The World Health Organisation identifies alcohol as the third highest risk factor for ill health in developed countries, behind only tobacco and high blood pressure.
Around 1 in 20 Scots die an alcohol attributable death, from causes ranging from cancer to car accidents.
Alcohol misuse has been shown to damage the brain and nervous system, affect the immune system, harm bones, skin and muscles, cause fertility problems and impair fetal development.
In the short term, it can result in accidental injury or alcohol poisoning.
In the long term, it can lead to a range of alcohol related conditions, including cancer, liver cirrhosis and high blood pressure, and even to death. Worryingly Scotland has one of the fastest growing chronic liver disease and cirrhosis death rates in the world and women in Scotland are as likely to die of liver cirrhosis as men in England.
Taken together this represents a significant risk to health.