Today (Tuesday, 23 September), the National Records of Scotland published its annual report on alcohol-specific deaths.
Key findings include:
- There were 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths registered in 2024, 92 (7%) fewer than in 2023.
- This is the lowest annual figure since 2019.
- Alcohol-specific mortality rates were 4.5 times as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the least deprived areas in 2024.
This comes after the National Records of Scotland’s report on drug-related deaths found that 1,017 people lost their lives in 2024.
Kirsten Horsburgh, chief executive officer at Scottish Drugs Forum, says:
“Today’s report shows that there was a slight reduction in alcohol-specific deaths in 2024. The scale of this issue still demonstrates that greater urgency and ambition are required to deliver change and save lives. My thoughts are with all those affected, especially the families and friends of the 1,185 people who tragically lost their lives last year.
“Tackling alcohol harm in Scotland may seem like a daunting – even impossible – task, especially given our deep-rooted drinking culture. But the reality is that we already know which support models would have an impact. The real challenge is making them available in every community across the country.
“To do this, the Scottish Government must commit to investment in proven interventions – including Managed Alcohol Programmes, ‘Safe Spaces’ that connect people to longer-term support, alcohol care teams in hospitals, and specialist alcohol courts. All of these services must be underpinned by a national programme of peer-led research and a dedicated alcohol harm reduction workforce training strategy.
“We cannot accept that 2,202 people lost their lives to alcohol or drugs last year. The single most powerful driver of long-term change would be a bold, national strategy that tackles the structural inequalities and social conditions that drive harmful substance use in the first place.
“Scotland doesn’t have to be defined by high rates of alcohol and drug deaths. We have an opportunity to confront these challenges with compassion, evidence, courage, and a focus on human rights.
“As we approach an election year, I urge our political leaders to work alongside local authorities, health services, Integration Joint Boards, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, third-sector organisations, and, crucially, the communities most affected to deliver a truly transformative public health approach.
“My words on drug-related deaths apply equally here: Scotland can stop these deaths – but only if we work together, with a vision that extends far beyond the next election and with a shared belief in the value and dignity of every person’s life.”
You can read the NRS report here.