Scots alcohol deaths ‘still highest in UK’

NEARLY 1,200 Scots died due to alcohol-related issues in 2024, with Scotland continuing to have the highest fatality rate in the UK.

- By David Walker

Figures published by National Records of Scotland showed that 1,185 fatalities were registered last year, a fall of 7% compared to 2023, when deaths hit a 15-year high.

This is despite the SNP’s “world-leading” minimum unit pricing of 65p a unit, introduced in 2018 and hiked from 50p per unit by Holyrood last year.

Punishing

Independent reports about the effectiveness of this policy for reducing deaths are largely inconclusive, although some claim there has been a reduction in hospitalisation and deaths compared to England and Wales.

Some experts even highlighted that alcoholics were cutting back on meals in order to afford booze, and critics claim the SNP are “punishing” responsible drinkers.

It is the 12th year in a row that the death toll has been more than 1,000.

The Scottish Government hailed the drop from 2024 and the fact it is the lowest total since 2019. But it failed to mention mortality rates were 4.5 times as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the wealthiest regions.