More alcohol issues in poorest areas

Calls have been made to tackle alcohol abuse among the poorest communities as new figures revealed chronic liver disease mortality rates were more than six times higher in the most deprived areas last year.

Picture: PA

Of these, 80 per cent of chronic liver disease deaths were due to alcoholic liver disease.

Hospital stays have soared to record levels at 190 per 100,000 of the population, and people from poorer areas were five times more likely to end up in hospital than their more affluent peers, the Scottish Public Health Observatory found.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume said: “Alcoholism and binge drinking are still huge problems in this country and excessive alcohol consumption is one of the key factors leading to chronic liver disease.”