According to figures from the Scottish government, Glasgow has the highest record of alcohol-related deaths in all of Britain. The number of drinking deaths in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area was 267% higher in 2008 than the national average of 13 per 100,000.
The BBC reports that most Scottish parliament constituencies—64 of the 73—also had more drinking-related deaths than the UK average. The Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale constituency had the lowest deaths in Scotland, at a third of the UK average.
The figures also showed that the Glasgow Shettleston constituency had the worst drinking-related death rate in the UK—574% higher than the UK average. In Glasgow Maryhill, the rate was more than four times the UK average at 420%, while the rate in Greenock and Inverclyde was 371%–almost four times higher.
SNP MSP for Glasgow, Anne McLaughlin, described the figures as "shocking" and said they illustrated the "scale of the challenge" faced in tackling alcohol abuse. "With the death rate from alcohol nearly six times higher in Shettleston than in the UK as a whole and for six Glasgow constituencies to be among the 10 highest death rates is a disturbing reality check for all politicians, professionals and the drinks industry," McLaughlin said.
"The scale of Glasgow’s death toll from alcohol is shocking. These deaths take a huge personal toll on families in the city as well as our communities and public services,” she added.
Joe Fitzpatrick, SNP MSP for Dundee West, said: "These figures expose for all to see the dramatic impact alcohol has on health in Scotland. There can be no doubt that we must take action on alcohol now before more lives are lost."
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