By Robert Mitchell
Copyright dailyrecord
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, has welcomed new figures showing a significant fall in alcohol-specific deaths across Scotland. She says this highlights the life-saving impact of the Scottish Government’s world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy. The latest statistics from the National Records of Scotland reveal that alcohol-specific deaths fell by seven per cent in 2024, dropping to 1185 – the lowest figure recorded since 2019, and a decrease of 92 deaths compared to the previous year. The figures also show that the age-adjusted mortality rate fell from 22.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 to 20.9 per 100,000 in 2024. Male deaths, which continue to account for around two-thirds of all alcohol-specific deaths, have also declined alongside female deaths. The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to reducing alcohol harm across Scotland, with targeted policies like MUP backed by record investment and a public health-led approach. Ms Haughey said: “I want to thank all the local services, charities, and frontline workers in Rutherglen and Cambuslang who are supporting individuals and families affected by alcohol. “These figures represent real lives saved, including in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and a clear step forward in tackling alcohol-related harm in our communities. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with all those who have lost a loved one. “That said, this seven per cent fall is significant, and I believe it reinforces what international public health experts have said – Minimum Unit Pricing works. “Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce MUP, and the evidence is now clear, it is helping reduce alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions.” *Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
