Dumbarton’s MSP has called for urgent action after new figures revealed alcohol deaths are five times higher in communities such as West Dunbartonshire.

Jackie Baillie was responding to a report published by Public Health Scotland which found that deaths linked to alcohol were much higher in Scotland’s poorest communities.

Incidences of alcohol-related hospitalisations were found to be as much as eight times higher in areas of deprivation compared to more affluent communities.

In West Dunbartonshire, 22 people died from alcohol-specific incidents in 2020. 

And Ms Baillie warned the Scottish government must act now to prevent further deaths in these areas.

She said: “It is concerning that these figures are showing a stark difference between deprived areas and more affluent communities.

“Unfortunately, West Dunbartonshire suffers from too high levels of poverty and inequality, meaning that life expectancy is lower.

“Alcohol-related deaths are preventable and the SNP must wake up to the fact that there are glaring health and addiction inequalities which are costing people their lives, leaving families heartbroken.

“The Scottish Government need to put a proper action plan in place to tackle these issues before more lives are lost.”

In August last year, research by the National Records of Scotland showed that 22 people in the area died from alcohol-specific incidents in 2020 compared to 18 in 2019.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Every death from alcohol is one too many and impacts on families and communities across Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting people into the treatment and recovery that is right for them at the right time.

“That’s why we’re taking a range of actions to tackle Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol through our two strategies: Rights, Respect and Recovery and the Alcohol Framework.

"The Scottish Government announced increased investment, with £100 million being allocated to support further investment in residential rehabilitation and associated aftercare over the next five years.

"We are also consulting on potential restrictions on alcohol advertising, reviewing the level of the minimum unit price, and reviewing the delivery of Alcohol Brief Interventions in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government is taking action to improve the conditions which drive alcohol harms, reducing poverty and inequalities, providing good quality affordable housing and enabling the best starts in life for our children."