Number of Scottish binge drinkers still 'far too high'

Published on Tuesday 29 September 2009 14:58

ALMOST a third of men and a fifth of women are drinking more than their recommended amount of alcohol every week, a Scottish Government survey showed today.

But the proportion of adults exceeding these limits has fallen over the past five years, the Scottish Health Survey 2008 said.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said drinking levels among many Scots is still "far too high".

The survey found that 27% of men drank more than eight units on their heaviest drinking day in the past week. This is the equivalent of four pints of lager and is officially classed as binge drinking.

The eight-units figure includes 30% of men under 55, with men generally drinking less as they get older.

Among women, 18% said they drank more than six units on their heaviest drinking day in the past week. This is the equivalent of three pints of lager and is defined as binge drinking for women.

"It is clear that alcohol consumption among a significant proportion of the population is still far too high," Ms Sturgeon said.

"The amount that people drink in Scotland has reached worrying levels and is taking a heavy toll on our NHS, police, criminal justice and other services."

The figures also show that about three in every ten men said their alcohol consumption was more than the recommended limit of 21 units per week.

About one in five women said they drank more than the recommended limit of 14 units per week.

But this proportion has been reduced from 34% in 2003 among men and 23% among women.

And on average, adults stayed within the recommended level. Men drank 18 units of alcohol per week and women drank 8.6 units.

Weekly consumption was higher among younger men and women than among older people.

The Government plans to introduce a minimum alcohol price and has already taken action to curb happy hours in pubs.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The Scottish Government is investing almost 120 million over three years in tackling alcohol misuse and we've proposed a radical package of measures to change Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol in the longer term."