Alcohol intake figures down as scheme hailed a success

DESPITE a number of reports showing the devastating effect of alcohol on the Lothians population, figures are said to be moving in the right direction thanks to a new scheme.

NHS Lothian is in the middle of a major project to grill more than 20,000 people about their drinking.

The "brief intervention" initiative sees GPs select patients who they feel may be suffering from the impact of too much alcohol.

Already 11,000 people have been subjected to the process, and early indications suggest that more than 40 per cent of those involved have managed to reduce their intake to an acceptable level.

While those statistics were generated from a snapshot, Jim Sherval, NHS Lothian's specialist in public health, said that it was a good sign.

"It will now be rolled out into other areas to help reach as many people as possible to help reduce their drinking," he added.