Alcohol deaths reduced by 13%

Booze-related hospital admissions also down

- REBECCA MCCURDY

MINIMUM unit pricing has cut alcohol deaths by 13.4 per cent - despite limited evidence of reducing consumption among low-income alcoholics, a report has said.

The 50p minimum charge on each unit of alcohol since 2018 has had a "positive impact", according to Public Health Scotland.

While alcohol deaths fell by more than a tenth, the report also noted hospital admissions due to alcohol consumption dropped by 4.1 per cent, with the largest reduction in men and those living in the 40 per cent most deprived areas.

The report estimates there were about 150 fewer deaths on average a year and 400 fewer hospital admissions.