ALCOHOL ABUSE IS COSTING US £60m
New warnings over West Lothian figures
More than 1000 people in West Lothian were admitted to hospital with alcoholrelated issues in 2015 – and excessive drinking is costing the region over £60 million a year. The latest available figures show there were 1102 hospital admissions, with 26 alcohol-related deaths. There were also 40 child protection cases where parental misuse of alcohol or drugs were involved.
The annual financial cost of alcohol misuse in West Lothian across health, social care, crime and productive capacity is an estimated £60.1million.
Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said that alcohol is damaging the health, wealth and safety of people and communities in West Lothian.
She said: “One in three men and one in five women in West Lothian are drinking above the low- risk guidelines.
“Regularly drinking more than
14 units per week increases the risk of many illnesses including breast, bowel and oral cancers, liver disease and mental health problems.”
Fourteen units is approximately six pints of beer, a bottle and a half of wine, or a half a bottle of spirits.
Ms Douglas said: “As well as being a major cause of illness, injury and premature death, alcohol damages families and communities and costs our public services millions of pounds.
“To reduce this harm, we need to tackle the cheap prices, easily availability and constant promotions which encourage us to drink too much.”
Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian, spoke to representatives from Alcohol Focus recently when the group addressed Scottish Parliament about their new manifesto.
Mr Findlay said: “Alcohol abuse is a problem that impacts on too many families.
“Our communities are often less safe, people get ill and die younger and our public services are put under incredible strain trying to cope with the impact of alcohol abuse.
“Scotland has a problem with harmful alcohol consumption. Alcohol Focus have provided us with a number of ideas that should help stimulate and I commend them for that.”
Angela Constance, SNP MSP for Almond Valley, said the Government have been investing money into combating alcohol misuse.
Ms Constance added: “Misuse of alcohol has a huge cost to our health services, the economy and the health and well-being of individuals and families.
“That’s why the Scottish Government have invested a record £ 319million to tackle alcohol misuse since 2008, passed minimum unit pricing legislation and introduced the lower drink-drive limit.”