Alcohol abuse ‘costs every Scot £900 a year’

Alcohol misuse could cost every adult in Scotland about £900 each year, according to a new report.

York University economists said problems associated with alcohol cost Scottish taxpayers about £3.56bn a year – a tenth of the country’s budget.

Ministers have called on MSPs to back the Alcohol Bill to introduce a range of measures including minimum pricing.

Currently it does not have enough support from opposition parties to see the bill become law.

It is thought that one in five Scots drink more than recommended daily limits, which three to four units for men and two to three for women.

This latest research – which looks at the impact on not just the NHS but also the police, social services, families and the economy – puts a much higher figure than the £2.25bn previously given on the cost of alcohol abuse to Scottish society.

The report’s calculations were:

• Healthcare costs were £268.8m, or 7.5% of the £3.65bn total
• Social care costs were £230.5m, or 6.5% of the £3.65bn total
• Crime costs were put at £727.1m, or 20.4% of the £3.65bn total
• Cost to economy’s productivity was £865.7m, or 24.3% of £3.65bn
• Human cost [suffering caused by premature deaths] was £1.46bn, or 41.2% of £3.65bn

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.

“The Scottish government’s Alcohol Bill includes a package of evidence-based measures to get to grips with this issue, including minimum pricing to combat the dirt-cheap ciders, lagers and low-grade spirits favoured by problem drinkers.

“The time for stalling is over and the need for action is clear.”