Scots in the most deprived communities were five times more likely to die from alcohol in 2025 than those in the wealthiest areas, according to figures described as "shameful" by campaigners. The National Records of Scotland (NRS) reported a death rate of 40.2 per 100,000 people in the least affluent areas, compared with 8.3 per 100,000 in the better-off.
The gap between the two groups widened over the past year, prompting calls for the SNP Government to act. Overall alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland fell by three per cent in 2025 to 1,152, though the figure varied by region.
Regional variations and political reaction
The rate of alcohol-specific deaths was above the national average in Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Dundee and Renfrewshire. Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "While progress towards bringing down the number of alcohol-related deaths is welcome, it is clear far too many lives are still being lost."
Baillie added: "It is shameful that those in the most deprived areas of Scotland are nearly five times more likely to die from alcohol than those in the most well-off parts of the country." She called for investment in recovery services, maintaining national funding, and recouping profits from Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) from large retailers to fund frontline rehabilitation services.
Government response and expert warnings
Drugs and Alcohol Minister Maree Todd acknowledged the Government "must do more" as she announced plans to embed "alcohol care teams" in hospitals. She said: "Despite this small decrease, the number of deaths remains far too high and we must continue to do all we can to reduce them."
Todd noted record funding of over £160 million this year for alcohol and drugs programmes, widening access to treatment and residential services, and improving pathways through detox, crisis care and stabilisation. Dr Maria Casserly, chair of the addictions faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, warned the death total was the "tip of the iceberg" regarding alcohol-related harm.
Casserly said: "Alcohol-related harm remains one of Scotland's most pressing public health challenges. Scotland continues to have some of the highest rates of alcohol-specific deaths in the UK, and these figures underline the urgent need for sustained action on prevention, treatment and long-term support." She added that specialist alcohol services should be available and accessible in all Scottish hospitals to turn the tens of thousands of alcohol-related admissions into opportunities for intervention.
