Skip to main content

With You responds to the National Records of Scotland report on alcohol-specific deaths

August 2023

Today (Tuesday, 29 August), the National Records of Scotland has published its annual report on alcohol-specific deaths. The report, which covers 2022, finds that:

  • There were 1,276 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland in 2022, an increase of 2% (31 deaths) on 2021
    • Female deaths increased by 31 to 440 deaths in 2022, with the number of alcohol-specific male deaths unchanged from 2021
    • Male deaths continue to account for around two thirds of alcohol-specific deaths
  • Alcohol-specific deaths were 4.3 times as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived areas in 2022
  • The difference between Scotland and the other UK countries has generally narrowed over the last twenty years. Taking England as an example, in 2001 the rate for Scotland was 2.9 times as high and in 2021 it was 1.6 times as high

Statement from With You

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive at With You, says: “My thoughts are with everyone who has lost a parent, child, sibling, partner or friend to alcohol.

“While drug-related deaths in Scotland are finally starting to reduce, the number of deaths from conditions wholly caused by alcohol has grown every year since 2012. I hope the Scottish Government will reflect on this and commit to approaching alcohol-related harms with the same urgency and determination as the National Drugs Mission.

“More than half of the people we support through our services across Scotland have come to us for help to reduce or stop their drinking. Often, they tell us that they feel like ‘frauds’ because they don’t consider their problems to be as serious as those of people using drugs. But, in 2022, 1,276 people died because of alcohol - and this ongoing increase is a pattern we have seen for more than 10 years.

“As a nation, we need to better acknowledge the depth of this issue in order to change behaviours and save lives. If you are worried about your alcohol intake, or that of a loved one, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our free webchat and phone line services are a great first step in asking for help.”