The Scottish Drink Problem

22 people a week died from alcohol-related causes in Scotland in 2015, 54% higher than in England and Wales. The alcohol-related death rate was more than twice as high in men as in women, with 30 deaths per 100,000 of the population in men compared with 13.8 deaths for women.

Alcohol-related death rates were six times higher in the 10% most-deprived areas than in the 10% least deprived. The report highlighted inequalities, with alcohol-related stays in hospital nearly nine times higher in the 10% most-deprived areas than in the 10% least deprived areas in 2015/16.

 Lucie Giles, lead author of the report, said: "It is worrying that as a nation we buy enough alcohol for every person in Scotland to exceed the weekly drinking guideline substantially. This has harmful consequences for individuals, their family and friends as well as wider society and the economy. The harm that alcohol causes to our health is not distributed equally; the harmful effects are felt most by those living in the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland."

In 2016, the equivalent of 10.5 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland, representing 20.2 units per adult per week. Official guidelines advise against men and women drinking more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. Enough alcohol was sold last year in Scotland for every adult to exceed the weekly guideline by 44% every week of the year. Sales of alcohol per adult per week were 17% greater in Scotland than in England and Wales 

Alcohol Focus Scotland chief executive Alison Douglas, said: "Alcohol is so cheap and widely available that it's easy to forget how it can damage our health."

And it is also easy to overlook the fact the tremendous power of commercial advertising and retail pressure that exists to expand the market for the manufacturers and distributors. Booze means profits.