By Edel Kenealy
Copyright dailyrecord
Four people in Renfrewshire are losing their lives to alcohol every month, new figures have revealed. A total of 49 people lost their lives to alcohol in 2024 – a number that has remained stubbornly high over the past five years. Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that, between 2020 and 2024, a total of 241 people lost their lives to alcohol in the council area. The figures mean that Renfrewshire jumped to seventh worst area for the number of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland. It means that for every 100,000 members of the population, 24. 9 people died. Across Scotland, alcohol-related deaths decreased by seven per cent in 2024. However the decrease has been smaller in Renfrewshire, with the drop in deaths, from 52 to 49, representing a cut of just five per cent. Responding to the latest figures, John Goldie, chair of Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), said the ADP was expanding access to alcohol treatment services and harm reduction programmes to try and reduce the impact of alcohol harms in the future. He said: “I welcome this reduction in the number of alcohol specific deaths as every life lost is one too many. “This is an encouraging sign and reflects the hard work of services, communities, and individuals who are supporting healthier relationships with alcohol. We will continue to build on this momentum, working together to reduce the harms caused by alcohol and to ensure that people can access the right help and support when they need it.” There were 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland in 2024 – a drop of 92 from 2023. But the figure is still the fifth highest in the years since 2008. Despite the introduction of the SNP’s landmark minimum-unit pricing legislation, Scots living in the poorest parts of the country are 4.5 times more likely to die as a result of alcohol compared to those living in the richest areas. Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: “Despite the welcome drop in deaths from alcohol reported today, there is no room for complacency, they still remain appallingly high and more than double the level of 30 years ago. “Yet action taken so far hasn’t matched the scale of this crisis. The Scottish Government must do better. Too often, these deaths are framed solely as the result of addiction. This narrow focus overlooks a much wider reality. “Not everyone who dies because of alcohol is dependent or addicted, and many don’t see their drinking as a problem. Yet, prolonged heavy drinking can cause serious harm, such as liver disease, without any obvious warning.” Maree Todd, SNP minister for public health, said: “While we are making progress on tackling the harms caused by alcohol, we cannot become complacent. “This is a public health priority and we are continuing to channel our energy towards reducing alcohol harm further. There is still a lot of work to be done to save and improve lives.” Commenting on the figures, Douglas McFarlane, registered manager at Abbeycare, which has a residential rehab and detox service in Erskine , said: “Our staff see first-hand the terrible impact that excessive drinking can have, not just on people’s bodies but on their families, careers, and wider relationships. “We would like to see more funding put towards harm reduction and treatment services for alcohol, to help turn this year-on-year fall in deaths into a longer-term trend.” Don’t miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – you can sign up to our free daily newsletter here
