Rise in drink deaths among Scots women

SCOTLAND'S alcohol crisis has dramatically worsened, with the country's women now at a greater risk of dying from drink-related diseases than men in England.

A new national "alcohol death map" compiled by Glasgow University researchers reveals that the average women's death rate from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is almost 16 per 100,000 population compared with 15 among English men.

The average death rate for men in Scotland remains higher – at 38 deaths – but the map shows that in some areas, such as Glasgow Ibrox, it rises as high as 176.

But the map also exposes the shocking effects of the increasingly entrenched drinking culture on Scottish women. The female death rate also reaches a high of 59 in Glasgow Ibrox, an economically deprived area on the city's south side.

The map will provide further ammunition for ministers determined to curb Scotland's damaging drinking culture. Legislative changes are expected from the Scottish Parliament next month.

Dr Richard Mitchell, of the university's public health department, who compiled the map along with Dr Carol Emslie of the university's Medical Research Council public health sciences unit, said the death rates in some areas were "astronomical" and indicative of a growing national trend.

"Scotland is facing a huge public health problem, which will require strong and radical action by the Scottish Government," he said.

"The results suggest to us that men and women are both vulnerable to the social, economic and cultural pressures which can make people drink too much."

The researchers say at least 1,000 men and 448 women are now dying every year from alcohol-related conditions.

The map is the most detailed survey carried out into the geographical spread of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, compiled from Office for National Statistics data for 144 areas between 2000 and 2005.

New figures published today from the drinks industry analysts Neilsen's suggest Scotland has the eighth-highest alcohol consumption level in the world.

As revealed in Scotland on Sunday last week, the country drank nearly 50 million litres of pure alcohol in 2007 – equivalent to 11.8 litres per head for every person aged over 16. This is considerably higher than England and Wales, which had an average consumption figure of 9.9 litres per head.

Culture of over-consumption that must be reversed

THE findings published in today's Scotland on Sunday make for very worrying reading. They blow apart any notion that alcohol misuse is some kind of marginal problem and show that in fact large numbers of people in every part of Scotland are drinking potentially harmful amounts of alcohol.

This is already causing alcohol-related illnesses and deaths to skyrocket – but with young people drinking more than ever before, the future health consequences could be even worse.

The Scottish Government sees tackling alcohol misuse as our most pressing health priority. We have consulted on a radical package of measures and will outline our next policy steps shortly.

Our central argument is that the big fall in the relative price of alcohol over the past 25 years means a culture of over-consumption has taken root which we must reverse for the sake of our nation's health. With drinking habits formed at an early age, we also think encouraging a more sensible approach among young people is vital.

It's clear that over-consumption of alcohol cuts across society. The Scottish Household Survey showed that while nearly half of men in the most deprived socioeconomic group binged on their heaviest drinking day, the highest proportion of men (nearly 40% per cent) drinking more than 21 units per week were in the most affluent group.

Meanwhile, women in the wealthiest group also showed high consumption – with nearly a third exceeding weekly guidelines.

Scotland has led the way with progressive action to tackle smoking and we can do the same with alcohol, but only if we get over our denial and face up to the fact that alcohol is causing serious harm to us as individuals, communities and as a society. Already, the fallout from alcohol misuse in terms of the extra strain put on public services and lost economic productivity is costing Scotland at least £2.25bn per year – that's £500 for every adult in our country.

It's a cost we could all do without.

• Nicola Sturgeon MSP is Health Secretary in the Scottish Government