Alcohol deaths in Scotland surge during lockdown to highest in a decade
1,190 people died during 2020
Last updated 17th Aug 2021
The year of Covid lockdowns in Scotland saw alcohol-specific deaths increase by 17% in 2020 to the highest level in more than a decade, with the Glasgow and the west seeing the worst rates.
A total of 1,190 alcohol-specific deaths were recorded in 2020 following a decline in the figures the previous year, with the statistics now at the highest since 2008.
Deaths which are alcohol-specific have a different definition to those which are alcohol-related - they exclude deaths which are partially attributed to alcohol.
West of Scotland the worst for drink deaths
The National Records of Scotland figures show Glasgow city and Inverclyde had the highest rates of alcohol-specific deaths (at 33 per 100,000) however these two local authority areas have also seen the biggest reduction in alcohol-specific deaths since 2004.
Scottish Borders and Aberdeenshire had the lowest rates on the mainland.
Lockdown blamed for increase in heavy drinking
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said lockdown had led to people who were drinking heavily consuming even more alcohol.
She said: "I'm deeply saddened to see an increase in alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland and my heart goes out to all those affected.
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"We have been making progress in this area in recent years as shown by the 10% drop in the number of deaths caused by alcohol last year.
"Although alcohol consumption in Scotland dropped in 2020, evidence from various surveys has shown those who were drinking heavily before the pandemic were more likely to increase their drinking during lockdown, thereby increasing their risk of harm.
How deaths have increased since 1979
Middle-aged men the most likely to die from drink
Addiction services under pressure
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: "In the last year we have worked with alcohol organisations to get services back to pre-pandemic levels as quickly as possible."
" This includes additional funding to extend outreach initiatives which identify people at risk, address their immediate health concerns, and get them the support they need.''
Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, said:
“While Scotland continues its COVID recovery journey, it is clear that life will not get back to normal any time soon for thousands of families affected by alcohol harm.
"Since March 2020 our Helpline has been inundated with calls from individuals concerned about their own drinking during lockdown, and from those concerned about a loved one’s alcohol use.
"A common theme has been how impossible it is to reach alcohol treatment and support when you need it, with phones ringing out, messages not returned, and few options offered when you do actually reach help
Separate NRS figures released on Tuesday also showed a 1.1% decrease in annual deaths from Alzheimer's and other dementias to 6,352.
There was also a 1.2% decrease in accidental deaths to 1.2%.