Binge Drinking and Chronic Liver Disease Both Growing in Scotland

The Scots love their drink and a growing habit seems to be coinciding with an increase in the diagnosis of chronic liver disease. According to a report in Top Us News, binge drinking is on the rise in Scotland, as is chronic liver disease. Now that the numbers of this disease due to drinking has tripled in the past 15 years, Scotland has the second highest rate in Europe.

The NHS reports that roughly 9,072 people suffering from the disease were treated in the hospital and the disease caused 1,059 deaths. The mortality rate among 30 to 39-year olds linked with chronic liver disease has increased five times in 25 years.

Other European nations have reported a fall in the rate of the disease. Scotland continues to report more such cases and comes next to Hungary in the number of diagnosed individuals. Nicola Sturgeon, Health Secretary, has said the statistics identify the need to take strict actions on alcohol misuse and there should be a minimum price for drink.

“Most worrying is the increase in alcohol-related problems among young people, who are putting themselves at risk of serious health problems. Alcohol is now around 70 per cent more affordable than it was in 1980 and, over the same period, consumption and alcohol-related harm have spiraled,” Sturgeon said.

“These factors are not unrelated. Cheap alcohol is making a serious situation even worse. By linking price to product strength, minimum pricing will put an end to the sale of high-strength alcohol for less than the cost of bottled water.”

At this present time, the Alcohol Misuse Bill is making its way to the Scottish Parliament, which is meant to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol.