ENOUGH alcohol was sold in Scotland last year for every adult to exceed the weekly guideline by 40%, every week of the year, a new report on the nation’s drinking has revealed.

And Lucie Giles, lead author of the Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy Monitoring Report 2018, said it showed that alcohol consumption was still a “significant public health concern”.

Her report found that 10.2 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland in 2017 – that’s about 40 bottles of vodka, 105 bottles of wine, or 450 pints of beer and equivalent to 19.6 units per adult per week – higher than the recommended limit of 14 units for men and women.

Almost half (47%) of the booze sold in shops and supermarkets cost less than 50p per unit – the new minimum unit price brought in by the Scottish Government – down from 51% in 2016. The average price per unit in the off trade last year was 54p – higher than the minimum unit price.

Public Health Minister, Aileen Campbell, said: “The total volume of alcohol sold in Scotland in 2017 is similar to the level sold in 1994.

“However, since 1994 we’ve seen a huge shift from people buying alcohol in pubs, clubs and restaurants, to buying in supermarkets and off-licences. Almost half of all alcohol sold in supermarkets and off-licences in 2017 was sold at less than 50 pence per unit.

“Our world leading minimum unit pricing policy now ensures no alcohol can be sold below 50 pence per unit.

“I am confident minimum unit pricing will make a significant difference to the harms shown in this report.

“Those that drink most heavily and live in deprived areas experience the greatest levels of harm, and they will benefit most from minimum unit pricing.”

While more Scots were heeding the recommended drinking guidelines, more than a quarter (26%) of people were consuming more than this, according to the report.

Alcohol is now responsible for 22 deaths and 697 hospital admissions a week, with the rates of these more than eight times higher in Scotland’s most deprived areas than they are in the most affluent communities.

More than 24,000 people were admitted to hospital for a drink-related condition in 2016-17, with a total of more than 36,000 inpatient stays recorded over the course of the year.

The scale of the problem meant that alcohol related hospital admissions were 4.4 times higher than they were in the 1980s.

Almost three quarters (73%) of all booze sold in Scotland is through supermarkets and other off-sales.

Giles, a public health intelligence adviser at NHS Health Scotland, said: “As a leading cause of illness and early death, alcohol consumption and related harm remains a significant public health concern. With rates of alcohol-specific deaths increasing in recent years, and alcohol related hospital admissions four times higher than they were in the 1980s, it is more important than ever that we continue to monitor alcohol price, consumption and alcohol-related harms to inform and evaluate policy.

“Preventative action is necessary to reduce alcohol consumption if long-term improvements in alcohol-related harm are to be realised.

“And with the most harm being felt in our poorest areas, we must take action to reduce the health inequalities related to alcohol.”