The news that the Scottish Government plans to reduce the drink drive limit will be welcomed by most Scots. The majority (74%) of those who contributed to the recent government consultation agreed that the limit should be reduced to 50 mg per 100 ml of blood. This is long overdue and in line with most other EU countries; not unfortunately with England.

Reducing the Drink Driving Limit in Scotland

Most respondents said that drink driving limits should be reduced in Scotland; 102 (74%) said yes, 33 (24%) said no. 

There was widespread agreement with the Scottish Government proposal for a reduction in the blood limit, an equivalent reduction in the breath limit and an equivalent reduction in the urine limit. Of the 102 respondents who supported a reduction in the drink drive limits, 89 respondents (87%) said 'yes' and 11 (11%) disagreed. 

The main consequences envisaged for these proposals were fewer road accidents, fewer casualties and the reduced risk of road accidents. 

SHAAP has responded to the Scottish Government consultation paper on Further Options for Alcohol Licensing.

The global burden of disease and injury attributable to alcohol is large and growing. In 2010, it wasresponsible for 5.5 per cent of this overall burden, third after high blood pressure and tobacco smoking, among 67 risk factors overall. Full report in the March edition of Addiction.

See a copy of our response.

The new Evidence Update focuses on a summary of selected new evidence relevant to NICE clinical guideline 115 ‘Alcohol use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence’ (2011).

SHAAP Response to a Consultation on Delivering the Government’s Policies to Cut Alcohol Fuelled Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) have published national alcohol statistics for 2011 - 31 March 2012.

Chief Medical Officer Annual Report 2011 - Transforming Scotland's Health

Published late 2012, this report looks at key policy strategies to address health inequalities in Scotland. 

Key areas identified with the potential to reverse current trends include: early years work with children and families, reducing offending and re-offending, supporting drug and alcohol rehabilitation and increasing physical activity.

Health Inequalities in Scotland

The impact of alcohol and drug misuse remain significantly worse in the most deprived areas of Scotland.

Alcohol misuse ; Overall patterns

• Rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions have decreased in recent years. There was an 11 per
cent fall between 2006/07 and 2010/11.

• However, there has been a long-term (30-year) increase in alcohol-related problems with alcoholic
liver disease increasing fivefold, alcohol-related hospital admissions quadrupling and alcohol related
deaths trebling.

• There are higher levels of consumption and more significant health problems in Scotland
compared to England and Wales. Alcohol sales are around 20 per cent higher in Scotland than in
England while alcohol-related deaths are around twice as high.

Alcohol Misuse: l Extent of inequalities

• Problems are twice as high among men than among women. One in ten of all hospital discharges
for men was estimated to be attributable to alcohol compared to one in 20 for women. In 2011,
there were 432 female alcohol-related deaths compared to 815 male deaths - almost twice as many.

• Alcohol-related deaths and hospital discharges are around six to seven times higher in the most
deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. In 2010/11, the rate of alcohol-related discharges
was 214 per 100,000 in the least deprived areas compared to 1,621 per 100,000 in the most
deprived areas.

Alcohol Misuse: Change in inequalities

• Health inequalities related to alcohol misuse are relatively stable.