The Social Harms

The burden of social harm from drinking alcohol is substantial. Alcohol is recognised as a contributory factor in a wide range of social problems including anti-social behaviour, crime, violence, domestic violence, strained relationships, family breakdown, child abuse and child neglect.

• Alcohol or drugs, or a combination of both, was a factor in 37% of those accused of homicide in Scotland in 2017-18
• Six in ten young offenders were drunk at the time of their offence
• 58% of people known to mental health services in Scotland who died by suicide had a history of alcohol misuse
• Up to 51,000 Scottish children are estimated to live with a parent whose drinking is problematic
• 17% of 15-year-olds reported drinking in the last week, of which 57% reported getting drunk
• A quarter of children on the Child Protection Register are estimated to be there due to parental alcohol or drug misuse
• One in three divorces cite excessive drinking by a partner as a contributory factor
• Emergency departments in Scotland deal with over 70 alcohol-related assaults every day.