Scots drink more than English . . . and gap is widening

The gap between the drinking habits of Scots and the rest of the UK is widening, research suggests.

A report by NHS Health Scotland found that last year consumption of pure alcohol was 23 per cent higher among over-16s in Scotland than those in England and Wales – up from a 21 per cent gap in 2009.

The gap is the widest ever seen since figures were first recorded in 1994. Health campaigners said it highlighted the need for Scotland to take action to increase the price of alcohol.

But the alcohol industry pointed out that the total amount of alcohol consumed in Scotland in the last five years had remained largely unchanged.

Pressure has grown in recent years for Scotland to take action to combat its harmful relationship with alcohol, including a failed bid by the last SNP government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

This measure is expected to feature again when the Scottish Government unveils its legislative programme next Wednesday, with hopes that the new majority administration will be able to push its bill through.

Yesterday’s report found that 2.2 litres more of pure alcohol per adult were sold in Scotland in 2010 compared to England – 11.8 litres compared to 9.6 litres.

This equated to 22.8 units of alcohol per adult per week in Scotland – above the recommended upper weekly limit of 21 units for men.

Health Scotland said this was largely due to 1.6 litres higher sales from off-licences and supermarkets in Scotland compared to England and Wales – with 1.1 litres of this accounted for by spirits.

The report said that sales of vodka explained 38 per cent of the difference in so-called “off-sales”, with almost two-and-a-half times more vodka sold per adult in Scotland than in England and Wales.

The researchers said that while alcohol sales in pubs and restaurants – the on-trade – decreased by 28 per cent in Scotland from 5.5 litres in 1994 to 3.9 litres in 2010, off-sales increased by 52 per cent over the same period – from 5.2 litres in 1994 to 7.9 litres in 2010.

An estimated two-thirds (67 per cent) of all alcohol sold in Scotland in 2010 was through off-sales.

But the figures also show that the total litres of alcohol consumed in Scotland have remained stable for the last five years, with consumption actually dropping from 11.9 litres in 2009 to 11.8 litres last year.

However, consumption in England and Wales has also dropped, but by a larger amount leading to the growing gap.

The average price of a unit of alcohol sold in off-sales in Scotland was 45p per unit – the same as in England and Wales.

Dr Laurence Gruer, director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland, said: “The findings underline the need to take action to tackle low-price off-sales if we are going to limit the damage alcohol is doing across Scotland.”

A Scotch Whisky Association spokeswoman said: “Consumption in Scotland is not soaring away as has been suggested.”

Gavin Partington, from the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, added: “This report reads like a pretty blatant attempt to support the case for minimum pricing yet again while at the same time producing evidence that appears to call into question the notion that price is connected with consumption.”