Scotland records second consecutive fall in alcohol-specific deaths as ministers pledge further action

Alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland have fallen for the second year in succession, according to new figures published by the National Records of Scotland, but ministers have warned that death rates remain “far too high” and have pledged further action to tackle alcohol-related harm.

The latest statistics show that 1,152 alcohol-specific deaths were registered in 2025, a decrease of 3% compared with 2024. The figures represent the lowest annual total recorded since 2020 and continue a recent downward trend following several years of rising mortality.

Despite the reduction, Scotland continues to experience some of the highest alcohol-specific death rates in the UK. The National Records of Scotland reported that the death rate in the most deprived communities was 4.8 times higher than in the least deprived areas, underlining the continuing link between alcohol harm and deprivation.

The latest decrease was driven by a fall in deaths among men. Male alcohol-specific deaths fell by 5% in 2025, while deaths among women increased by 3%. Rates remained highest among people aged between 45 and 74, reflecting a long-term ageing trend in alcohol-related mortality.

Responding to the figures, Alcohol Minister Maree Todd expressed sympathy for families affected by alcohol-related deaths but stressed that further intervention is needed.

Speaking during a visit to Whytemans Brae Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Todd said the Scottish Government and its partners were making progress in reducing alcohol harms but must “do more”. She pointed to more than £160 million of funding for alcohol and drug programmes, wider access to treatment services, and work to improve pathways through detoxification, crisis care and stabilisation.

The minister also confirmed that the Scottish Government will shortly publish a new Alcohol Harm Prevention Plan, intended to strengthen prevention and early-intervention measures.

Alongside the policy announcement, the Government launched a pilot Alcohol Care Team in Fife, designed to provide more intensive support for people with alcohol dependency following discharge from hospital. The scheme is intended to improve links between hospital and community services and could be expanded to other areas if successful.

The Government said it will continue to build on measures such as minimum unit pricing, which it argues has contributed to reductions in alcohol-related harm and mortality.