Exclusive:SNP under fire for lack of action to tackle alcohol deaths as focus on tackling drug fatalities
The number of alcohol-related deaths often outstrips drug fatalities but rarely receives the same focus.
John Swinney has been warned grieving families "deserve the same urgency" in tackling Scotland's alcohol death crisis as the nation's drug-related fatalities amid criticism over a lack of action.
Two leading charities have told The Scotsman it was "deeply disappointing" the First Minister's programme for government "contained nothing new" to tackle alcohol harm.
It comes ahead of annual alcohol-related deaths figures being published by National Records of Scotland this week - with the statistics on a par with drug deaths but receiving little attention.
The last statistics show that in 2024, 1,185 people died as a result of alcohol. New statistics for drug-related deaths revealed 1,133 fatalities in 2025.
READ MORE: Why so many men are being killed by Scotland's drug deaths crisis as synthetic substances take hold
The Scottish government has focused on drug deaths with Scotland being the capital of Europe for drug-related fatalities and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon admitting her administration “took our eye off the ball” in combating the crisis.
Public spending watching, Audit Scotland, has previously warned that the increased focus on drug harm is shifting attention from tackling alcohol issues despite more people dying in Scotland each year from drink-related harm than drugs.
Carolyn Lochhead, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “Alcohol deaths remain at more than double the level of 30 years ago and every death is a devastating loss.
“It’s now two years since Audit Scotland confirmed our concerns that efforts to reduce alcohol harm had been overshadowed by the recent focus on drugs. It’s right to invest in preventing deaths from drugs, but annual alcohol deaths often exceed those for all other drugs combined and require an equally strong response.”
She added: “The recent alcohol and drug strategy commits to improving treatment and services, which is vital.
“But it’s time we saw other criticisms in Audit Scotland’s report addressed, including publishing a comprehensive prevention plan that guarantees the future of minimum pricing, puts an end to the lengthy delay on promised alcohol advertising restrictions and reforms our licensing system.”
Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said: “Whatever the official figures on alcohol deaths in Scotland reveal this week, we already know that alcohol is claiming the lives of more than three people every day, a toll comparable to that of drug deaths.
“Both are tragedies, and both demand the full attention of government. Yet alcohol harm too often slips down the political agenda.
“Drug deaths have rightly been made a national mission, backed by dedicated funding. People dying from alcohol, and the families they leave behind, deserve the same urgency.”
Dr MacGilchrist said it was “deeply disappointing that this year’s programme for government contained nothing new to tackle alcohol harm”.
He added: “We know what works. Minimum unit pricing has saved lives, but it must keep pace with inflation and it cannot do the job alone.
“Treatment and support services need to be funded to meet the scale of need, and the Scottish Government must bring forward its long promised restrictions on alcohol marketing.”
Alcohol and drugs minister Maree Todd said: “We are making progress in tackling alcohol harms, by working closely with local Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships and other stakeholders to provide targeted, person-centred support, backed by record levels of funding of over £160 million this year.
“Public Health Scotland estimated that minimum unit pricing saved hundreds of lives in the years it was evaluated. We are building on the positive impacts of this policy, and will publish a new Alcohol Harm Prevention plan in the coming months.”
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