This year's Men's Health Week runs from 14-20 June.

SHAAP are partnering with Men's Health Forum Scotland during Men's Health Week to highlight the high rates of problem drinking in men in Scotland, and the consequently high health burden relating to alcohol.

We have produced infographics based on the latest data for Scotland, and provide resources for cutting down, our SHAAP/IAS Men and Alcohol: Key Issues report and a blog post we commissioned to coincide with Men's Health Week.

Alcohol consumption

On average, men drink almost double what women drink in Scotland.

More men drink at hazardous/harmful levels than women in every age group in Scotland.

Hazardous, harmful, or possibly dependent drinking is around twice as high for men as for women in Scotland.

Hospitalisations

Men are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for an alcohol-related condition than women.

Deaths

Men account for two-thirds of deaths directly relating to alcohol in Scotland. 

There is positive news that deaths directly relating to alcohol are falling amongst men in Scotland. However, deaths remain far too high - each of these tragic deaths is preventable.

The 'CAN DO' Challenge

Our partner for this week, Men's Health Week (Scotland) are running the CAN DO Challenge, with 'five ways to wellbeing':

• Connect - connect with other people (eg. call an old friend you haven't since before lockdown)
• (Be) Active - move your body (eg. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)
• Notice - take notice of the environment around you (eg. turn off your phone for an hour)

• Discover - learn something new (eg. read a book you haven't read before)
• Offer (or give) - do something for someone else (eg. volunteer for a local community group)

Further reading

NHS Inform have produced tips on cutting down, which includes SHAAP's advice for heavy drinkers who are thinking about cutting back or stopping drinking alcohol (both in the context of COVID-19 and beyond).

In 2019/20, SHAAP and the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) held a seminar series on Men and Alcohol. Last year, we published our Men and Alcohol: Key Issues report summarising the seminar series and providing recommendations for research, policy and practice.

You can also read SHAAP's blog post by Colin Shevills on men and alcohol.