NEWS ROUND-UP
Alcohol deaths continue to rise in Scotland
The number of alcoholspecific deaths in Scotland continues to rise according to the latest figures from National Records of Scotland . The total of 1,277 deaths in 2023 is one higher than the previous year , and is the highest figure since 2008 . Around two thirds of the people dying were male , increasing by 25 , while female deaths decreased by 24 . Alcohol-specific deaths were 4.5 times as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived , with the council areas of Inverclyde , Glasgow City , North Lanarkshire and Dundee City all showing higher rates than the Scottish average . ‘ The rate of alcohol-specific deaths peaked in 2006 and then fell until 2012 ,’ said head of vital events statistics Phillipa Haxton . ‘ Since then it has generally risen ,’ adding that ‘ those aged 45-64 and 65-74 continue to have the highest mortality rates .’
‘ It ’ s heartbreaking that three people are losing their lives every single day in Scotland specifically because of alcohol , and that the death toll is showing no sign of falling ,’ said Billy Henderson , service engagement manager at the Abbeycare Group , which runs a specialist residential detox and rehab service in Erskine . ‘ Our staff see firsthand the terrible impact that excessive alcohol consumption can cause , not just on people ’ s health but on their families , careers and wider relationships .’
The minimum unit price ( MUP ) for alcohol in Scotland has now increased from 50p to 65p , after MSPs voted to continue with MUP earlier this year – as the legislation was subject to a ‘ sunset clause ’ – as well as to increase it by 15p ( DDN , May , page 4 ). Campaigners had long argued that inflation meant that the original 50p rate had become ineffectual .
Despite the country ’ s rising
Volatile economy linked to patterns of drug use
THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS on drug use is ‘ complex and multifaceted ’, according to a report from EUDA . The report highlighted that ‘ young people and socioeconomically vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected during times of recession ’ and concluded that understanding the effects of recession on illicit drug use remained under-researched .
The review aimed to highlight gaps in research and raise questions . ‘ Recent global events , including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine , have caused volatility in the global economy ,’ it states . Against this backdrop , it looked at 25 studies up to 2020 , mainly relating to Europe and the US , and produced a general picture of young and already vulnerable populations appearing to be most affected .
Riskier patterns of use , such as switching from smoking or snorting drugs to injecting , were more likely during an economic downturn , and there were also signs of increased cannabis use . The impact of economic recessions on the use of illicit drugs at https :// www . euda . europa . eu / index _ en
' Government must ensure the [ MUP ] is automatically uprated by inflation otherwise the positive effects will once again be eroded over time .'
ALISON DOUGLAS
‘ Young people and socioeconomically vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected during times of recession .’ death toll from alcohol , Public Health Scotland ’ s final report on MUP estimated that it had reduced deaths by more than 13 per cent – based on comparisons with England – but also acknowledged that some people with alcohol dependence had been cutting back spending on food and other essentials in order to buy alcohol .
The new price means that a 70cl bottle of 40 per cent whisky will cost at least £ 18.20 , compared to the current minimum price of £ 14 , while a bottle of 12.5 per cent wine will increase from a minimum of £ 4.69 to just over £ 6 . The MUP increase was a ‘ welcome and necessary step to ensure that this life-saving policy remains effective ’, said Alcohol Focus Scotland CEO Alison Douglas . The government now needed to ‘ ensure the price is automatically uprated by inflation going forward , otherwise the positive effects will once again be eroded over time ,’ she said .
More than half back drinks duty increase
THERE IS WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SUPPORT to address alcohol-related harm through tax measures , according to Alcohol Change UK .
A survey of more than 2,000 adults found that 52 per cent agreed that increasing alcohol duty until it ‘ covered the cost ’ of alcohol-related harm would have a positive impact on the NHS . Just under half agreed that increasing alcohol duty in this month ’ s budget would be the ‘ right priority ’, says the charity , while more than 60 per cent wanted to see a ban on alcohol marketing in places that could be seen by children .
Increasing alcohol duty at up to 4 per cent above inflation would ‘ raise billions ’ over the course of the current parliament , says Alcohol Change UK , as well as help to close the ‘ alcohol harm deficit ’– the gap between the cost of alcohol harm and the income generated by the drinks industry .
4 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • OCTOBER 2024 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM