Alcohol statistics in Scotland
The headline figures for Scotland, with the year, definition and original source attached. Different datasets measure different things, so the numbers should not be treated as interchangeable.
Alcohol deaths 1,185 deaths — 2024.
National Records of Scotland recorded 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths. That was 92 fewer deaths than in 2023, a fall of 7%, and the lowest annual number since 2019.
The age-standardised alcohol-specific mortality rate was 20.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, compared with 22.5 per 100,000 in 2023.
"Alcohol-specific" means the death was from a condition wholly attributable to alcohol, such as alcoholic liver disease. It does not include every death in which alcohol contributed.
National Records of Scotland — alcohol-specific deaths 2024↗Hospital admissions 29,430 admissions — 2024/25.
Public Health Scotland recorded 29,430 hospital admissions for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol in 2024/25. Of these, 27,126 were in general acute hospitals and 2,304 were in psychiatric hospitals.
The age-sex standardised rate of general acute admissions was 494 per 100,000 population, 10% lower than the rate in 2023/24.
These figures count admissions, not individual people. One person can have more than one admission during a year. Accident and Emergency attendances that do not result in an admission are not included.
Public Health Scotland — hospital statistics 2024/25↗Drinking levels 20% of adults — 2024.
In the 2024 Scottish Health Survey, 20% of adults were classed as drinking at hazardous or harmful levels. The figure was 29% for men and 13% for women.
The highest prevalence was among adults aged 55 to 64, at 28%. Overall prevalence has fallen from 34% in 2003 to 20% in 2024.
Scottish Health Survey 2024 — alcohol↗People who do not drink 20% of adults — up from 11% in 2003.
The Scottish Health Survey found that 20% of adults were non-drinkers in 2024, compared with 11% in 2003.
In 2024, 22% of women and 18% of men reported that they did not drink alcohol.
Scottish Health Survey 2024 — alcohol↗How figures are counted Wholly and partially attributable measures are different.
Wholly attributable conditions would not have occurred without alcohol. Alcohol-specific deaths and the 2024/25 hospital figures above use this narrower type of measure.
Partially attributable conditions have several possible causes, with alcohol contributing to risk. Examples include some cancers and cardiovascular conditions. Public Health Scotland publishes separate estimates for these wider effects.
These two types of statistics should not be added together casually or described as if they measure the same thing.
Public Health Scotland — partially attributable alcohol harms↗When figures are published Deaths, hospital data and sales are updated separately.
Alcohol statistics are published on different timetables. As of October 2026, the latest published alcohol-specific death figure is for 2024, while alcohol retail sales are available for 2025 and hospital admission data cover financial year 2024/25.
National Records of Scotland is scheduled to publish Alcohol-Specific Deaths 2025 on 27 October 2026. This page should be updated when that release is available.
National Records of Scotland — upcoming publications↗ See the research library and source links→