Professor John Robertson OBA
From Alcohol Consumption and Harms Dashboard published today, the above graph and:
In 2024, 9.0 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland, equivalent to 17.3 units per adult per week. [‘Safe level’ is 14 units]
Throughout the period from 2017 to 2024 the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult per year in Scotland has fallen steadily from 10.6 litres in 2017 to 9.0 litres in 2024.
The majority (76%) of alcohol sold in 2024 in Scotland was sold in off-trade premises such as supermarkets and other off-licenses. While total off-trade sales have declined since 2017, the proportion of alcohol sold in the off-trade has increased from 73% in 2017.
Throughout the period from 2008 to 2023 the percentage of adult Scottish Health Survey respondents who identify as being non-drinkers has steadily increased from 12% in 2008 to 20% in 2023.
You just know the Herald, the Wrecker and BBC Scotland will find a way to catastrophise the above graph, almost certainly using the words ‘still’ and ‘worst’.
Say you were (I know you are) a bit more open-minded and intelligent, what could you get from it?
In pubs, Scots drink no more than the English or the Welsh.
From carry-outs, Scots drink the equivalent of only 2 pints of beer per week more than the English or Welsh, drink around 3 pints per week less than they did only 7 years ago and less than the English and Welsh did only 4 years ago.
The trend is steadily down and better.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
selling it doesn’t equate to drinking it. I and my family have about 10 litres of various spirits in our cupboards, bought for do’s but never used. If a third of families in Scotland are the same then how many litres have been sold but not consumed?
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Scotland used to drink 25% more alcohol than the rest of the UK. MUP etc has seen the consumption fall. Scotland cannot tax alcohol or fags like other countries. To lower consumption even more.
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As you predicted John the mainstream media seem to be presenting this in terms of Scots’ still drink way too much etc., apparently 50% above the recommended safe limit of 21 units per week. Seems limited messaging on the reducing overall trend. It isn’t just the Scottish Govt that the media like to criticise it seems, it was only a few weeks ago that we were also told we were drinking too much water compared with people in England and Wales. It is only a few years ago since the “recommended safe limit” for women was 21 units and men 28 units – in other words 50% and 100% respectively above the current safe limit. Interestingly, most countries safety limits are different for men and women.
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