Scots are Brits biggest drinkers
Research revealing that Scots drink around 100 pints of beer a year more than English and Welsh counterparts has led to more calls for minimum pricing.
The report, compiled by Nielsen and published by NHS Scotland, also reveals that Scottish adults drank 23.6 units of alcohol a week in 2009, the equivalent of about 12 pints.
The study looked at alcohol sales for the past five years and found that Scottish drinkers buy on average 24 per cent more alcohol than those in the rest of Great Britain.
A second report looked into the price of off-trade alcohol in 2009, and revealed that off-trade sales were double that of licensed premises in 2009, with 68 per cent of alcohol sold in off-licences and supermarkets.
Of Scotland's off-trade sales, 90 per cent was priced below 60 pence per unit, and 16 per cent was sold below 30.
The findings sparked a fresh call from the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland to consider minimum pricing on alcohol.
BMA Scotland chairman DR Brian Keighley said:
"Scotland is awash with cheap alcohol. Half of all alcohol sold in off sales in Scotland is priced at less then 40 pence a unit and Scots are paying the price with their health.
"The off sales trade has had its chance to demonstrate responsibility and they have failed. Now, more than ever, we need legislation to introduce minimum price limits."
Scottish government plans to introduce a minimum price have stalled due to a lack of support from opposition parties but the ruling SNP is still keen on the measure.
Janet Hood, head of BII Scotland, stressed that the drinking situation in Scotland is no worse than the rest of the UK.
She said: "The statistics are interesting, but one wonders what has been taken into account. We have responsible and well-trained staff and licensees both on and off trade in Scotland, and the situation does not look any worse in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK."
