Alcohol deaths highest in 15 years

Responding to the news that the number of people in Scotland whose death was caused by alcohol is at the highest level in 15 years, with 1,277 people dying from alcohol-specific causes in 2023, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“It is devastating that more than 20 people a week die due to alcohol misuse in Scotland. This will be a hard day for all those who have lost a loved one.

“We were the first party to call for the minimum unit price to be updated so that public health isn’t undermined by inflation – a move that will happen at the end of this month. But on the flipside the Scottish Government decided to hand down a real-terms cut to drug and alcohol services in this year’s budget.

“We need joined up thinking from the Scottish Government to stop alcohol wrecking lives and communities.”