Gender divide in Scotland’s alcohol-related deaths
23 February 2009
More than twice as many men die every year in Scotland from alcohol misuse than women, a study by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the University of Glasgow has revealed.
The findings show that men’s death rate from alcohol is 38 deaths per 100,000, while women’s rate is 16 per 100,000. On average, the study found that 999 Scottish men and 448 women die from the health consequences of alcohol-abuse each year.
The study comes as the Scottish Government prepares to publish its new strategic approach to tacking alcohol misuse, which was put out to consultation last year. Scotland has one of the highest rates of mortality due to cirrhosis of the liver in Western Europe.
The university report, which consolidates existing data showing that alcohol-related fatalities in both genders have doubled over the past 10 years, also found that death rates within Scotland vary considerably. Most alcohol-related deaths occur in the Greater Glasgow area, though the authors identified areas with high rates in all regions of the country. However, researchers say the findings go against the prevailing public perception that alcohol abuse is more prevalent among young women.
The report was carried out by Dr Carol Emslie of the MRC’s Social and Public Health Sciences Unit and Dr Richard Mitchell, of the University of Glasgow’s Public Health department and published online at www.biomedcentral.com.
Dr Carol Emslie, of the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, said the aim of the study was to establish a clearer picture of the gender and geographical divide in alcohol-related deaths in Scotland.
“We wanted to find out whether environment influenced the rate of alcohol-related deaths in both men and women across Scotland. In doing this, we looked at three main questions - which areas have the highest rates of alcohol-related death in Scotland; are these areas the same for men and women; and are there areas in Scotland where the gap between men and women’s alcohol-related death rates is unusually large or small?” said Dr Emslie.
Dr Richard Mitchell added: “Scotland is facing a huge public health problem which will require strong and radical action by the Scottish government. What is interesting is that although the study shows remarkable differences from place to place in alcohol-related deaths, the areas in which alcohol-related deaths are a particular problem for men are largely the same for women.
“The results suggest to us that both men and women are vulnerable to the social, economic and cultural pressures which can make people drink too much.”
In carrying out their research Dr Mitchell and Dr Emslie divided Scotland into 144 areas based on the last population census. “These areas were about half a parliamentary constituency in size with a typical population 35,000 people,” explained Dr Mitchell.
It is the first time such a detailed scale has been used in a study of this kind. The researchers obtained records of alcohol-related deaths between 2000 and 2005 for each of these areas from the General Register Office for Scotland.
“We used the National Statistics definition of ‘alcohol-related deaths’ which includes chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. We calculated rates of alcohol-related death separately for men and women. Our method took account of any differences in the population size of each of our 144 areas and the rates can be compared from area to area. We also looked for areas in which women’s alcohol-related mortality rates were unusually small or unusually large, compared to the men’s rate for that area,” continued Dr Mitchell.
Most of the areas with very high alcohol-related death rates are found in Greater Glasgow. However, rural areas in the Highlands also featured in the 25 areas with the highest rates for men and women; Inverness West and Eilean Siar (Western Isles) for example.
“In the vast majority of areas, 136 out of 144, the gap between men’s and women’s alcohol-related death rate was as expected; areas with high rates for men tended to have high rates for women. Similarly, areas with low rates of alcohol-related death for men tended to have low rates for women. There was no clear pattern to the eight unusual areas in which the gap between men’s and women’s alcohol-related death rate was either smaller or larger than expected,” said Dr Mitchell.
Press contact: 020 7637 6011
press.office@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Notes:
Table 1: Age-standardised alcohol-related mortality rates in Scotland per 100,000 population, by gender (2000-2005)
Sorted by rates for men |
Sorted by rates for women | |||||
Area Name |
Men |
Women |
Area Name |
Men |
Women | |
Glasgow Ibrox |
176.0 |
58.9 |
Glasgow Ibrox |
176.0 |
58.9 | |
Glasgow Calton |
166.1 |
40.0 |
Glasgow Cowlairs |
152.1 |
55.0 | |
Glasgow Cowlairs |
152.1 |
55.0 |
Edinburgh Holyrood |
99.7 |
42.4 | |
Linwood |
131.8 |
25.3 |
Glasgow Blairdardie |
86.3 |
42.0 | |
Glasgow West End |
116.9 |
40.1 |
Glasgow West End |
116.9 |
40.1 | |
Glasgow Easterhouse |
111.5 |
29.7 |
Glasgow Calton |
166.1 |
40.0 | |
Greenock North |
104.8 |
24.1 |
Glasgow Milton |
102.1 |
39.3 | |
Glasgow Milton |
102.1 |
39.3 |
Glasgow Maryhill |
83.5 |
35.0 | |
Edinburgh Holyrood |
99.7 |
42.4 |
Dundee North-West |
49.0 |
34.9 | |
Glasgow Parkhead |
94.6 |
34.7 |
Glasgow Parkhead |
94.6 |
34.7 | |
Glasgow Blairdardie |
86.3 |
42.0 |
Rutherglen West |
49.7 |
31.7 | |
Johnstone |
83.8 |
24.9 |
Saltcoats and Arran |
31.3 |
30.0 | |
Glasgow Maryhill |
83.5 |
35.0 |
Glasgow Easterhouse |
111.5 |
29.7 | |
Dundee South-East |
80.7 |
27.6 |
Inverness West |
61.9 |
28.9 | |
Glasgow Nitshill |
79.4 |
25.4 |
Edinburgh East |
57.4 |
28.9 | |
Glasgow Robroyston |
76.7 |
25.7 |
Dundee South-East |
80.7 |
27.6 | |
Glasgow Cardonald |
74.8 |
26.2 |
Glasgow Cardonald |
74.8 |
26.2 | |
Glasgow Partick |
72.5 |
17.8 |
Glasgow Robroyston |
76.7 |
25.7 | |
Clydebank |
71.9 |
19.7 |
Glasgow Nitshill |
79.4 |
25.4 | |
Old Aberdeen |
63.6 |
18.2 |
Linwood |
131.8 |
25.3 | |
Stirling Urban |
61.9 |
17.5 |
Johnstone |
83.8 |
24.9 | |
Paisley Blackhall |
61.9 |
16.3 |
Greenock North |
104.8 |
24.1 | |
Inverness West |
61.9 |
28.9 |
Falkirk Central |
52.8 |
23.4 | |
Glasgow Castlemilk |
61.8 |
20.2 |
Eilean Siar Rural |
44.3 |
23.2 | |
Glasgow Knightswood |
60.6 |
20.9 |
Kirkintilloch North |
27.3 |
23.0 | |
Leith |
58.9 |
22.6 |
Blantyre |
46.3 |
22.6 | |
Dumbarton Central |
58.5 |
19.9 |
Leith |
58.9 |
22.6 | |
Ayr Central |
58.4 |
18.9 |
Wishaw |
52.7 |
22.1 | |
Edinburgh East |
57.4 |
28.9 |
Hamilton North |
44.0 |
21.4 | |
Motherwell |
56.3 |
19.0 |
Glasgow Pollokshields |
45.6 |
21.0 | |
Wick |
55.6 |
11.0 |
Paisley Gallowhill |
37.7 |
20.9 | |
Barrhead |
55.1 |
12.0 |
Glasgow Knightswood |
60.6 |
20.9 | |
Port Glasgow |
54.9 |
18.4 |
Glasgow Castlemilk |
61.8 |
20.2 | |
Greenock South |
54.0 |
11.8 |
Dumbarton Central |
58.5 |
19.9 | |
Falkirk Central |
52.8 |
23.4 |
Clydebank |
71.9 |
19.7 | |
Wishaw |
52.7 |
22.1 |
Motherwell |
56.3 |
19.0 | |
Edinburgh North |
52.3 |
13.9 |
Ayr Central |
58.4 |
18.9 | |
Aberdeen Nigg Bay |
51.6 |
15.0 |
Mallaig |
46.7 |
18.4 | |
Shotts |
50.0 |
16.8 |
Port Glasgow |
54.9 |
18.4 | |
Rutherglen West |
49.7 |
31.7 |
Rutherglen East |
48.4 |
18.4 | |
Dundee North-West |
49.0 |
34.9 |
Bridge of Allan |
31.9 |
18.3 | |
Rutherglen East |
48.4 |
18.4 |
Old Aberdeen |
63.6 |
18.2 | |
Perth Central |
47.5 |
15.5 |
Livingston Central |
24.0 |
18.0 | |
Leven |
47.1 |
16.3 |
Glasgow Partick |
72.5 |
17.8 | |
Edinburgh Murrayfield |
46.7 |
15.4 |
Musselburgh |
25.0 |
17.5 | |
Orkney |
46.7 |
6.9 |
Stirling Urban |
61.9 |
17.5 | |
Mallaig |
46.7 |
18.4 |
Cumbernauld |
35.1 |
17.4 | |
Coatbridge |
46.5 |
16.4 |
Belshill |
43.7 |
17.3 | |
Blantyre |
46.3 |
22.6 |
Midlothian South-East |
30.7 |
17.2 | |
Glasgow Pollokshields |
45.6 |
21.0 |
Bute |
28.7 |
17.1 | |
Eilean Siar Rural |
44.3 |
23.2 |
Linlithgow South |
40.4 |
17.0 | |
Hamilton North |
44.0 |
21.4 |
Sidlaw and Carnoustie |
32.2 |
16.8 | |
Belshill |
43.7 |
17.3 |
Shotts |
50.0 |
16.8 | |
Kilwinning |
41.7 |
15.4 |
Kilmarnock Central |
25.0 |
16.6 | |
Dundee North-East |
41.0 |
15.6 |
Edinburgh Corstorphine |
38.4 |
16.5 | |
Linlithgow South |
40.4 |
17.0 |
Forfar |
19.8 |
16.5 | |
Elgin |
38.9 |
9.3 |
Kilmarnock Rural |
27.0 |
16.5 | |
Edinburgh Corstorphine |
38.4 |
16.5 |
Coatbridge |
46.5 |
16.4 | |
Stornoway |
37.8 |
13.9 |
Paisley Blackhall |
61.9 |
16.3 | |
Paisley Gallowhill |
37.7 |
20.9 |
Leven |
47.1 |
16.3 | |
Glasgow Baillieston |
37.5 |
15.0 |
Denny |
18.4 |
15.9 | |
Dundee South-West |
36.8 |
9.8 |
Dundee North-East |
41.0 |
15.6 | |
Edinburgh Sighthill |
36.3 |
15.1 |
Perth Central |
47.5 |
15.5 | |
Chryston |
36.2 |
11.5 |
Kilwinning |
41.7 |
15.4 | |
Montrose and Arbroath |
36.1 |
9.9 |
Edinburgh Murrayfield |
46.7 |
15.4 | |
Larkhall |
35.7 |
12.6 |
Edinburgh Sighthill |
36.3 |
15.1 | |
Largs and Cumbrae |
35.5 |
13.3 |
Aberdeen Nigg Bay |
51.6 |
15.0 | |
Cumnock & Doon Valley |
35.4 |
14.9 |
Glasgow Baillieston |
37.5 |
15.0 | |
Cumbernauld |
35.1 |
17.4 |
Cumnock & Doon Valley |
35.4 |
14.9 | |
East Kilbride North |
34.3 |
7.5 |
Kirkcaldy North |
26.9 |
14.6 | |
Airdrie |
33.4 |
13.7 |
Caithness |
19.3 |
14.1 | |
Edinburgh Kaimes |
33.3 |
12.4 |
Lanark |
21.7 |
14.1 | |
Sidlaw and Carnoustie |
32.2 |
16.8 |
Irvine |
30.0 |
14.0 | |
Prestonpans |
32.1 |
10.6 |
Stornoway |
37.8 |
13.9 | |
Livingston Rural |
32.0 |
13.7 |
Edinburgh North |
52.3 |
13.9 | |
Bridge of Allan |
31.9 |
18.3 |
Ettrick and Lauderdale |
14.4 |
13.8 | |
Falkirk Laurieston |
31.5 |
12.0 |
Dumfries Central |
20.7 |
13.8 | |
Saltcoats and Arran |
31.3 |
30.0 |
Airdrie |
33.4 |
13.7 | |
Midlothian South-East |
30.7 |
17.2 |
Livingston Rural |
32.0 |
13.7 | |
Irvine |
30.0 |
14.0 |
Inverness East |
25.1 |
13.7 | |
East Kilbride South |
29.5 |
12.5 |
Helensburgh |
21.1 |
13.6 | |
Bridge of Weir |
29.1 |
9.2 |
Dunfermline Central |
25.5 |
13.5 | |
Glasgow Newlands |
29.1 |
11.2 |
Largs and Cumbrae |
35.5 |
13.3 | |
Bute |
28.7 |
17.1 |
Dingwall and Skye |
28.5 |
13.0 | |
Dingwall and Skye |
28.5 |
13.0 |
Midlothian North-West |
26.5 |
12.7 | |
Forres |
28.4 |
12.5 |
Larkhall |
35.7 |
12.6 | |
Lorn |
27.8 |
10.1 |
Aberdeen West |
23.3 |
12.6 | |
Linlithgow North |
27.6 |
11.6 |
Nithsdale |
21.3 |
12.5 | |
Cowdenbeath |
27.5 |
10.9 |
East Kilbride South |
29.5 |
12.5 | |
Hamilton Cadzow |
27.4 |
12.1 |
Forres |
28.4 |
12.5 | |
Prestwick and Troon |
27.4 |
8.8 |
Edinburgh Kaimes |
33.3 |
12.4 | |
Kirkintilloch North |
27.3 |
23.0 |
Dunfermline North-East |
24.2 |
12.2 | |
Kilmarnock Rural |
27.0 |
16.5 |
Hamilton Cadzow |
27.4 |
12.1 | |
Kirkcaldy North |
26.9 |
14.6 |
Falkirk Laurieston |
31.5 |
12.0 | |
Kirkcaldy South |
26.5 |
7.7 |
Newburgh |
12.7 |
12.0 | |
Midlothian North-West |
26.5 |
12.7 |
Barrhead |
55.1 |
12.0 | |
Shetland |
25.9 |
6.1 |
Glenrothes |
20.4 |
11.9 | |
Dunfermline Central |
25.5 |
13.5 |
Kilsyth |
23.0 |
11.9 | |
Inverness East |
25.1 |
13.7 |
Dunfermline South-West |
24.8 |
11.8 | |
Kilmarnock Central |
25.0 |
16.6 |
Greenock South |
54.0 |
11.8 | |
Musselburgh |
25.0 |
17.5 |
Linlithgow North |
27.6 |
11.6 | |
Dunfermline South-West |
24.8 |
11.8 |
Chryston |
36.2 |
11.5 | |
Buchan |
24.3 |
9.7 |
Alloa |
23.0 |
11.2 | |
Dunfermline North-East |
24.2 |
12.2 |
Glasgow Newlands |
29.1 |
11.2 | |
Livingston Central |
24.0 |
18.0 |
Wick |
55.6 |
11.0 | |
Edinburgh Morningside |
23.5 |
9.8 |
Stirling Rural |
11.4 |
11.0 | |
Crieff |
23.5 |
8.9 |
Cowdenbeath |
27.5 |
10.9 | |
Aberdeen West |
23.3 |
12.6 |
Haddington |
19.3 |
10.9 | |
Alloa |
23.0 |
11.2 |
Prestonpans |
32.1 |
10.6 | |
Kilsyth |
23.0 |
11.9 |
Lorn |
27.8 |
10.1 | |
Grangemouth |
22.9 |
9.6 |
Montrose and Arbroath |
36.1 |
9.9 | |
Banff |
22.3 |
8.1 |
Edinburgh Morningside |
23.5 |
9.8 | |
Lanark |
21.7 |
14.1 |
Dundee South-West |
36.8 |
9.8 | |
Nithsdale |
21.3 |
12.5 |
Buchan |
24.3 |
9.7 | |
Helensburgh |
21.1 |
13.6 |
Grangemouth |
22.9 |
9.6 | |
Dumfries Central |
20.7 |
13.8 |
Aberdeen South-West |
18.6 |
9.4 | |
Glenrothes |
20.4 |
11.9 |
Elgin |
38.9 |
9.3 | |
Stranraer |
20.1 |
8.2 |
Bridge of Weir |
29.1 |
9.2 | |
Forfar |
19.8 |
16.5 |
Coupar Angus |
10.0 |
9.2 | |
Bearsden and Kirkintilloch S |
19.7 |
7.6 |
Turriff |
17.2 |
9.0 | |
Tweeddale |
19.3 |
5.1 |
Crieff |
23.5 |
8.9 | |
Caithness |
19.3 |
14.1 |
Prestwick and Troon |
27.4 |
8.8 | |
Haddington |
19.3 |
10.9 |
Milngavie |
10.6 |
8.3 | |
St Andrews |
19.2 |
8.2 |
Carrick |
18.7 |
8.2 | |
Carrick |
18.7 |
8.2 |
St Andrews |
19.2 |
8.2 | |
Aberdeen South-West |
18.6 |
9.4 |
Stranraer |
20.1 |
8.2 | |
Denny |
18.4 |
15.9 |
Berwickshire |
12.9 |
8.1 | |
Turriff |
17.2 |
9.0 |
Banff |
22.3 |
8.1 | |
Aberdeen Queens Cross |
17.0 |
5.3 |
Kirkcaldy South |
26.5 |
7.7 | |
Giffnock |
14.5 |
7.4 |
Queensferry |
13.0 |
7.7 | |
Ettrick and Lauderdale |
14.4 |
13.8 |
Bearsden and Kirkintilloch S |
19.7 |
7.6 | |
Dyce |
13.8 |
2.9 |
East Kilbride North |
34.3 |
7.5 | |
Roxburgh |
13.2 |
7.5 |
Roxburgh |
13.2 |
7.5 | |
Queensferry |
13.0 |
7.7 |
Giffnock |
14.5 |
7.4 | |
Berwickshire |
12.9 |
8.1 |
Inverurie |
8.6 |
7.2 | |
Newburgh |
12.7 |
12.0 |
Banchory |
9.1 |
6.9 | |
Dumfries East |
11.6 |
4.4 |
Orkney |
46.7 |
6.9 | |
Stirling Rural |
11.4 |
11.0 |
Balerno |
4.2 |
6.9 | |
Milngavie |
10.6 |
8.3 |
Shetland |
25.9 |
6.1 | |
Coupar Angus |
10.0 |
9.2 |
Aberdeen Queens Cross |
17.0 |
5.3 | |
Banchory |
9.1 |
6.9 |
Tweeddale |
19.3 |
5.1 | |
Inverurie |
8.6 |
7.2 |
Dumfries East |
11.6 |
4.4 | |
Stonehaven |
7.5 |
3.5 |
Stonehaven |
7.5 |
3.5 | |
Balerno |
4.2 |
6.9 |
Dyce |
13.8 |
2.9 | |
SCOTLAND |
38.0 |
15.5 |
SCOTLAND |
38.0 |
15.5 | |
