Alcohol: deaths

National Records of Scotland (NRS) annually publish information on the numbers of deaths which are classified as 'alcohol-related' on the basis of the current definition (which was agreed with the Office for National Statistics  and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in 2006). Further information on the coverage of alcohol related death statistics is available on the NRS website

A summary of the key points from the latest report, Alcohol-related deaths in Scotland, 1979 to 2010, is provided below;

• In 2010, there were 1,318 alcohol-related deaths, an increase of 36 (3%) compared with 1,282 in 2009. Of these 1,318 deaths, 909 were males and 409 were females
• Chart 1 (view chart)
   Close  shows that overall the number of deaths with alcohol as the 'underlying cause of death' has risen from 1,282 in 2009 to 1,318 in 2010.
• The number of alcohol related deaths is higher in older age groups.
• More men than women died of alcohol-related conditions in 2010. Chart 1 (view chart)
   Close  shows that, in 2010, 909 (69%) of alcohol-related deaths were in men compared with 409 (31%) which were in women.
• Chart 2 (view chart)
   Close  shows that people living in the most deprived quintile were over five times more likely to die an alcohol related death than those in the least deprived quintile (Source: NAIR based on NRs data).
• Further information on the number of alcohol related deaths by NHS Board and Council areas in Scotland is available on the NRS website