Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams

Alcohol specific
SAADAT considers alcohol to be the number one substance of misuse in this country. Both alcohol consumption and excessive drinking are increasing.

Alcohol related hospital admissions and deaths continue to rise for both men and women. Youth drinking shows worrying trends. Double the number of 13 year olds are drinking since 1990. Alcohol is estimated to cost Scotland £418 million a year in a reduction of output. It costs a further £484 million per year in impact upon public services. SAADAT is committed to reducing the levels of harm caused by drinking across the country.

SAADAT facilitates a number of alcohol working groups.
These are: Information, Capacity of Services, Licensing.

For full details of Scotland’s alcohol statistics for 2007:
• Alcohol Statistics Scotland

Further information on plans by the Scottish Executive on tackling alcohol misuse over the next three years can be found in Alcohol: A Plan for Action 2007-10

More information on specific issues connected with alcohol misuse and SAADAT’s involvement with them:

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Alcohol Related Deaths
There were 1513 deaths in Scotland in 2005 where alcohol was the underlying (direct) cause. This includes alcoholic liver disease, alcohol pancreatitis, mental and behavioural disorders. A further 859 deaths had alcohol as a contributory factor. This totals 2372 deaths, an increase of 72% since 1995. Cirrhosis mortality rates in Scotland are now amongst the highest in Western Europe.

• Further information on Alcohol Related Deaths

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Alcohol Related Illness
Over 31,000 people in 2004/05 were admitted to hospital with an alcohol – related diagnosis (4% of all general hospital patients in that year).

There was a 52% increase in the number of people discharged from general hospitals for alcohol-related liver disease between 97/98 and 2004/05. Alcohol-induced illnesses such as Korsakoff’s Syndrome have seen a significant increase. There is a trend towards younger patients being diagnosed with Korsakoff's syndrome. It reflects the growing trend for heavy alcohol consumption. Action teams are committed to reducing the harm caused by alcohol misuse.

• Further information on Alcohol and Health Harm
• Further information on Korsakoff’s Syndrome

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Alcohol and Mental Health
As many as 65% of suicides have been linked to excessive drinking. Heavy drinking is more common in those with anxiety and depression. Improving the links between alcohol and mental health when it comes to both policy and provision of services is a key area of SAADAT’s work.

• Further information on alcohol and mental health

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Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Thousands of children in Scotland may be suffering the damaging effects of alcohol exposure in the womb, but most are undiagnosed.

More than 300 babies a year in Scotland are potentially born with impairments caused by their mothers' drinking during pregnancy. Difficulties in diagnosing the condition mean that only a handful of cases are formally recorded in Scotland each year.

Some estimate the number of children affected in Scotland at more than 8,000. They can suffer problems such as learning disabilities and hyperactivity, as well as physical difficulties. Clarification on the guidelines for pregnant women on alcohol use during pregnancy and dissemination of this information is a key policy area for SAADAT.

• Further information on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

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Women and Alcohol
The majority of young women aged 16-24 in Scotland drink alcohol. It is estimated that 1 in 12 young women drinkers may have alcohol problems. Scottish women drink more frequently than their counterparts in many other countries.

Younger women are now more likely to be recent drinkers than males. One in four may be drinking more than the adult recommended weekly limit. Some evidence suggests that women’s consumption continues to rise, with 17% of women reporting drinking more than 14 units per week, a rise from 13% in 1995. Reducing these statistics is a key priority of SAADAT’s work through the Action Teams. It requires changes to policy, improved information and adequate services for those who have a problem.

• Alcohol Statistics 2007 Scotland
• Young Women’s Alcohol Consumption Scotland 2005

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Young People and Alcohol
When it comes to young people, girls are more likely than boys to be recent drinkers. Amongst 15 year olds, one in four girls and one in five boys report drinking more than the adult weekly recommended limits.

Changes in national licensing legislation will have an affect on how alcohol is sold and served. The opportunity exists at the local level to introduce complementary policy that will have an impact on young people sourcing alcohol.

Preventing alcohol misuse amongst young people is an important strand of our work and a key priority at both the local level for Action Teams and at the national level for policy.

• Scottish Schools Adolescence and Substance Use Survey 2004

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Licensing (Scotland) 2005 Act
One of the biggest changes to affect how alcohol is sold and consumed in Scotland is the Licensing (Scotland) 2005 Act. It will be fully implemented by 2008. In practice it will mean:

• Irresponsible promotions will no longer be supported, eliminating promotions
encouraging binge drinking.

• Price promotion will have to be in place for at least 48 hours.

• Training will be a requirement for everyone involved in selling alcohol.

• All staff should understand that serving somebody already under the influence is illegal
and the implications for the licence holder.

• Younger drinkers will also be targeted. A ‘no proof no sale" requirement will mean that younger drinkers should not be able to buy alcohol without proving their age.

• The new act provides for Licensing Standards Officers (LSOs).
LSOs mediate between local communities and the licensed trade.

SAADAT facilitates a Licensing Sub-group and is committed to effective implementation of the Licensing Act.

• Full details of the Licensing Scotland Act >