24-06-2025
Does alcohol cause more harm in Glasgow? Here's the findings
Official figures show a long-term pattern of fewer people needing hospital treatment but rates remain high and alcohol consumption in Scotland is still higher than the rest of the UK.
The researchers said despite recent improvements, Scotland continues to face a significant alcohol problem, with adults who drink alcohol consuming an average of 21.6 units per week.
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The total is more than 50% above the Chief Medical Officers' safe drinking guidelines of 14 units for both men and women.
In Glasgow, according to Public Health Scotland, hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol for 2023/24 was 935 per 100,000 population.
The city is well above the Scotland-wide figure, which was 594.5 per 100,000 population.
Similarly, deaths wholly attributable deaths due to alcohol, was 33.4 per 100,000 population in Glasgow City.
This is also higher than the rate of wholly attributable alcohol mortality in Scotland, which is 22.5 per 100,000 population.
While the statistics are still high, the drop in recent decades is marked.
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In 2008/09, the rate of hospital admissions for alcohol was 1702 per 100,000.
Death rates in the city also show a big decrease from a high of 68.5 per 100,000 to 33.4 in 2023.
Public Health Scotland was alarmed at the level of consumption across Scotland.
Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, said: "Today's updates add to the evidence base that as a population, Scotland is consuming too much alcohol.
'If current drinking patterns continue, we project a 21% increase in alcohol-related disease burden by 2043 compared to 2019 levels. This means thousands more individuals and families facing the devastating impacts of alcohol related ill-health such as liver disease, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
'Every week, people across Scotland are drinking well above the recommended 14-unit limit, significantly increasing their risk of these serious health conditions.'
