Alcohol consumption habits in Scotland
AUDIT is a comprehensive 10 question alcohol harm screening tool. It was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and modified for use in the UK and has been used in a variety of health and social care settings.[1]
- The prevalence of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption continued to decrease, with levels falling from 34% in 2003 to 20% in 2023.
- The proportion of males that drank to hazardous or harmful levels was twice as high as that of females (28% and 14% respectively).
- Among all adults, the prevalence of hazardous or harmful weekly alcohol consumption varied with age, with the highest levels recorded for those aged 65-74 (27%) followed by those aged 55-64 (25%).
- With the exception of 2021 (14%), the proportion of adults with an AUDIT score of eight or more (hazardous/ harmful drinking or possible alcohol dependency) has remained in the range 17% – 19% (18% in 2023).
- The proportion of adults with an AUDIT score of 8 or more decreased with age, from 31% among those aged 16-24 to 5% among those aged 75 and over.
- Adults who were low risk drinkers or abstinent (AUDIT score of 0-7) recorded higher mental wellbeing than those who had an AUDIT score of 8+.
- Adults living in the most deprived areas of Scotland were more likely to record an AUDIT score of eight or more.
Source:
For more information, visit: http://www.alcoholinscotland.info/
Alcohol sales in Scotland
- In 2021, a total of 43.0 million litres of pure alcohol were sold in Scotland
- Consumption rates: In 2021, 9.4 litres (L) of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland, equivalent to 18.1 units per adult per week. Excluding the proportion of the population that does not drink alcohol gives a total consumption figure of 11.3L per adult drinker, rather than 9.4L per adult.
- In 2021, the volume of pure alcohol sold per adult in Scotland was maintained at a similar level to 2020, the lowest level seen over the available time series.
- Comparison: The volume of pure alcohol sold per adult in Scotland in 2021 was 4% higher than in England & Wales.
- Price of alcohol: In 2021, the average price of alcohol sold in the off-trade in Scotland was 64p per unit, an increase from 63p in 2020.
- Type of alcohol: Of the total volume of pure alcohol sold per adult in Scotland in 2021, spirits accounted for 31%, wine for 30%, beer for 29% and cider for 5%.
- Off-trade: In 2021, COVID-19 restrictions affected alcohol sales through on-trade premises (such as pubs, clubs and restaurants). Off-trade premises (supermarkets and other off-licences) sold 85% of all alcohol purchased in 2021 (up from 73% in 2019 but down from 90% in 2020).
- Promotions: 25% of all alcohol (natural volume) sold off-trade through larger multiple retailers (excluding discount retailers) in Scotland was sold on promotion, the same as 2020.
Source: The Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) monitoring reports 2022.