Aberdeenshire alcohol deaths remain low as national levels increase

The number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes rose in Scotland in 2022 by 2 per cent, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland.

In total 1276 deaths were attributed to alcohol-specific causes last year, 31 more than in 2021; the highest number since 2008.

Male deaths continue to account for around two thirds of alcohol-specific deaths.

Female deaths increased by 31 to 440, with the number of alcohol-specific male deaths unchanged at 836.

Taking into account the changing size and age-structure of the population, the rate of death had changed from 22.3 per 100,000 to 22.9 per 100,000 over the last year which is not considered statistically significant.

Inverclyde, Glasgow City, Na h-Eileanan Siar, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, Dundee City and North Ayrshire all had alcohol-specific death rates higher than the Scottish average while Aberdeenshire recorded the lowest rate, with Moray showing the third lowest.

In the past five years, after adjusting for age, the rate of mortality from alcohol specific deaths was higher than the Scottish average in the NHS Board areas in Western Isles, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire while NHS Grampian was third lowest, ahead of Shetland and the Borders.

Daniel Burns, Head of Vital Events Statistics, said: “Looking at the long term trend the number of deaths from alcohol-specific causes fell between 2006 and 2012 but has risen since and is now about the same as 2010 levels.

“In 2022, the average age at death for females from an alcohol-specific cause was 58.7 years and for males it was 60.0 years.”

There are 4.3 times as many deaths from these causes in the most deprived communities as in the least deprived communities but this equality gap has been narrowing.

This compares to a ratio of 1.8 times for all causes of death.

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