• Analysis of alcohol-specific deaths in 2020 shows there were 1,190 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland, 170 greater than in 2019 representing a 17% increase. 2020 represents the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths registered since 2008 (1,316).
• The age-standardised alcohol-specific death rate was 21.5 deaths per 100,000 population in Scotland.
• The rates of male alcohol-specific deaths (31.3 deaths per 100,000) were more than double the rates for females (12.7 deaths per 100,000). Males accounted for over two-thirds (69%) of alcohol-specific deaths.
• Most alcohol-specific deaths were of people in their 50s and 60s (711, 60% of the total in 2020).
• After adjusting for age, alcohol-specific death rates in the most deprived areas were 4.3 times more than those in the least deprived areas.

Source: Alcohol-specific deaths 2020, National Records of Scotland. 

The latest available finalised hospital admissions data extend to the end of March 2020, and therefore include the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In 2019/20 there were 35,781 general acute inpatient stays with an alcohol-related diagnosis. This is equivalent to an age-sex standardised rate of 667 inpatient stays per 100,000 population.

• In 2019/20, rates of alcohol-related hospital stays in Scotland were 2.4 times higher among men (937 per 100,000 population) than women (396 per 100,000 population).

• Rates also differ by age: in 2019/20, the 55–64 year age group had the highest rate of alcohol-related hospital stays at 1,117 per 100,000 population.

• Rates of alcohol-related hospital stays in general acute hospitals in Scotland were 4.3 times higher in 2019/20 than they were in 1981/82.

• In 2019/20, the rate of alcohol-related hospital stays was more than eight times higher in the 10% most deprived areas of Scotland compared with the 10% least deprived areas, a similar difference as in 1997/98.

Source: The Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) monitoring report 2021.

Problematic alcohol use has been estimated to cost the Scottish economy £3.56 billion each year. Local alcohol harm profiles detail alcohol-related measurable health trends in NHS Scotland Health Boards. Alcohol harm can affect not only individual health but also family life and public safety.