Battle with the booze costs every adult £900 each year

Published on Tuesday 12 January 2010 09:32

SCOTLAND'S drink problem is costing every adult £900 a year, an independent study claimed today.

• Alcohol misuse is costing every adult in Scotland 900 a year. Picture: Sean Bell

Experts calculated that taxpayers face an annual bill of about 3.56 billion for the consequences of alcohol misuse in terms of health, social care, crime, lost productivity and premature deaths.

The Scottish Government said the report showed the costs of the national alcohol problem were even worse than it thought.

The study, by independent health economists at York University, examined the impact of alcohol misuse on the NHS, police, social services, the economy and families.

It estimated the total annual cost at between 2.48bn and 4.64bn, with a mid-point estimate of 3.56bn.

Even the lowest figure is substantially higher than the previous estimate of 2.25bn per year.

3.56bn figure means alcohol misuse could be costing every Scottish adult 900 per year.

The figures suggest the cost in the Lothians is about 530m.

According to the study, the bill is made up of:

• 268.8m in healthcare-related costs.

• 230.5m in social care costs.

• 727.1m in crime costs.

• 865.7m in lost productivity.

• 1.46bn in suffering caused by premature deaths.

The calculated cost for premature deaths – 41 per cent of the total – takes into account the value of a person's work, childcare and voluntary activities over the years lost, plus an amount of 30,000-50,000 per year for the "intangible" value of life.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This report, which takes a more comprehensive view than any previous study, indicates that the total cost of alcohol misuse to Scotland's economy and society is even worse than we thought.

"Not only does alcohol misuse burden our health service and police, it also has a terrifying knock-on effect on our economic potential and on the families devastated by death and illness caused by alcohol."

She said the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill included a package of evidence-based measures to get to grips with the issue, including minimum pricing.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is supported by a broad coalition, including the four chief medical officers of the UK, the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges, Church of Scotland, Association of Chief Police Officers of Scotland and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association. On Friday, the House of Commons Health Committee also came out in favour of minimum pricing.

"I call on all MSPs to do the right thing and support the Alcohol Bill."

Finance secretary John Swinney said alcohol misuse was having a detrimental effect on Scotland's economic potential.

He said: "We are all paying the cost – even those of us who drink responsibly or not at all. It is essential we address this unacceptable drain on our public services and on business."

Last year, the Lothians were revealed as the booze capital of Scotland. Figures showed 40 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women exceeded the recommended weekly alcohol limit.