Alcohol advertising could be curbed in response to rising drink deaths in Scoland, health minister says

Experts will review how the public’s exposure to alcohol advertising can be reduced following the “harrowing” rise in alcohol deaths, the health secretary has said.

However the Conservatives were scornful of the Scottish Government’s plans, saying the focus should instead be on improving recovery services.

Last year, then first minister Humza Yousaf shelved plans which could have seen alcohol bottles obscured in shops, saying the government would be going “back to the drawing board”.

Retailers and alcohol producers had objected to the proposals before they were paused.

On Thursday, health secretary Neil Gray updated MSPs on steps the Government is taking in response to rising drug and alcohol deaths in Scotland.

Health secretary Neil Gray updated Parliament on the Government’s efforts to reduce drug and alcohol deaths. PA Media

Scotland’s drug deaths remain the worst in Europe after recent figures showed 1,172 people died in 2023.

The number of alcohol deaths increased by one to 1,277 in 2023 – the highest figure since 2008.

Gray said: “Every single one of these lives lost is a profound tragedy…

“The rise of 12% from 2022 (in drug deaths) is a heartbreaking disappointment and worry.”

He stressed a number of factors are behind the rising numbers, including deprivation and the appearance of new synthetic opioids on the market.

The minister said the Government is “stepping up” its response to these synthetic drugs, continuing plans to open drug checking facilities in Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The UK’s first facility allowing the safe consumption of illegal drugs is due to open in Glasgow next month.

Conservative Sue Webber said the focus should be on helping addicts recover. PA Media

Gray said new measures are needed to tackle alcohol harm and he will commission Public Health Scotland to “carry out a review of the evidence on the range of options to reduce exposure to alcohol marketing to help us in this aim”.

Answering questions from MSPs, Gray said the Government will consult on any recommendations from the review, ensuring action is “proportionate”.

Conservative drugs spokeswoman Sue Webber said the rising deaths are a “damning indictment of (the SNP’s) continued mismanagement”.

She said: “SNP politicians should hang their heads in shame, but instead they carry on, determined to prioritise decriminalisation and harm reduction over recovery.”

She asked the health secretary: “Do you really believe the right level of response to learning that alcohol deaths are at their highest level in 15 years is to commission a review into adverts?”

Gray said he does not deny the figures are “harrowing” and the Government will take “a range of approaches” including around alcohol advertising.

Following the session at Holyrood, Webber said: “If the SNP’s big idea to tackle record high alcohol deaths is to resurrect Nicola Sturgeon’s flawed alcohol advertising ban, it just highlights their dearth of proper solutions.”