Alcohol-related death rates in Edinburgh city are among worst in UK

Edinburgh now has one of the worst alcohol-related death rates in the whole of the UK, according to new figures published today.

There was a 62 per cent jump in the death rate among men in the city between 1998 and 2004, compared to the previous seven years, while the Capital was ranked seventh worst in the UK for alcohol-related deaths among women - up from 33rd.

Awareness groups today said the figures confirmed fears that alcohol abuse in Edinburgh and Scotland is a growing problem.

Estimates suggest that in the Lothians, 81,000 men and 56,000 women drink more than the recommended levels every week. In Scotland, the alcohol-related death rates for males and females were around double the rates for the UK as a whole, according to the new analysis from the Office for National Statistics.

The figures came on the same day the Scottish Executive published its updated action plan for alcohol problems, which sets out a range of prevention, education, treatment, protection and control measures.

Tom Wood, chairman of Action on Alcohol and Drugs In Edinburgh, said: "These figures tragically confirm what we have suspected for some time now - our reliance on alcohol is completely out of balance and this is the price we pay. Behind these black-and-white statistics there are huge numbers of families who have been badly marked by this, as well as the terrible illnesses before death."

Mr Wood said the cheap price of alcohol needs to be tackled, and he wants to see a long-term awareness strategy for young people.

Gillian Bell of campaign group Alcohol Focus Scotland today voiced concern at the "spiralling" number of deaths and instances of liver cirrhosis, which occurs when the liver can no longer repair itself.

"In European terms, Scotland is going in the opposite direction to other countries," she said.

"Excessive drinking has become the norm, whether it is on a Friday night or at home with a bottle of wine. Alcohol is involved in nearly all social occasions, and we need to change our attitudes."

Across the UK, the alcohol-related death rate for males was double the rate for females, and the gap between the sexes has widened since 1991.

In 2004, there were 8221 alcohol-related deaths in the UK, almost double the total of 4144 in 1991.

At a local level, Glasgow now has the highest alcohol-related death rate in Britain among both men and women. A total of 15 of the 20 UK local areas with the highest male death rates were in Scotland, with Edinburgh ranked 12th. The death rate per 100,000 population rose from 21.9 to 35.4, with 519 deaths between 1998 and 2004.

For women, 14 of the top 20 local areas were in Scotland, with West Lothian the 6th worst and Edinburgh just one place behind. The death rate in the Capital was 17.7, with 252 fatalities.

Dr Bruce Ritson, chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, today said the Executive should be commended for its "ongoing commitment to tackling the adverse health effects of excessive alcohol consumption".

"Coming on the day on which the latest statistics have shown that there are twice as many alcohol-related deaths in Scotland as in the rest of the UK, the need for concerted political action could not be clearer," he said.

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health with NHS Lothian, added: "We would urge people to pay attention to the government's published advice on safe alcohol intake limits."

Scotsman