Tuesday September 23rd 2025
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The number of alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland fell by 7% in 2024, according to new figures from National Records of Scotland.
There were 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths registered in 2024, 92 fewer than in 2023. This is the lowest annual figure since 2019.
Adjusted for age, the alcoholic-specific mortality rate was 20.9 deaths per 100,000 people, down from 22.5 in 2023.
Male deaths continued to account for around two thirds of alcohol-specific deaths. Both male and female deaths decreased in the past year.
Phillipa Haxton, Head of Vital Events Statistics, said:
“The number of alcohol-specific deaths decreased by 7% in 2024 compared with the previous year. This is the lowest figure since 2019, before the pandemic.
“The average age at death has risen over the last decade and is now 60 years for males and 58 for females.”
For all causes of death, the most deprived areas have a death rate twice as high as the least deprived. For alcohol-specific causes the rate is 4.5 times as high.
Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and Dundee City all had higher alcohol-specific mortality rates than the Scottish average in the period 2020-24.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd has underlined her unwavering commitment to continue reducing alcohol harms.
During a visit to Glasgow Council on Alcohol, Ms Todd said:
“Behind every number is a person and my heartfelt condolences go out to those affected by the loss of a loved one through alcohol.
“It is welcome to see the number of deaths at the lowest level since 2019 and we are continuing to work closely with local Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships (ADPs) and other stakeholders to provide targeted, person-centred support, backed by record levels of funding of around £160 million this year.
“However, while we are making progress on tackling the harms caused by alcohol, we cannot become complacent.
“This is a public health priority and we are continuing to channel our energy towards reducing alcohol harm further. There is still a lot of work to be done to save and improve lives.
“Research commended by internationally renowned public health experts has estimated that our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy has saved hundreds of lives and is likely to have averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions.”
Lesley Ross, CEO of Glasgow Council on Alcohol, said:
“We have a comprehensive series of services to reduce alcohol harm through direct counselling for individuals and families, community education, employability support for people in recovery and tailored services for women, the LGBTQ+ community and young people.
“We see the real impact of alcohol on health and wellbeing and remain committed to providing dedicated services specific to alcohol use.”
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