Drink Up Scottie..

Scots down 46 vodka bottles a year

Scottish people are drinking an average of 46 bottles of vodka a year
Scots are drinking the equivalent of 46 bottles of vodka each in a year, a study has suggested.

The figure was higher than that recorded in other parts of Britain.

According to the findings, Scots are downing 25% more alcohol per head of population than the English and the Welsh.

The 50.5 million litres of pure alcohol sold in Scotland last year was enough for every drinker over the age of 18 to exceed the weekly consumption guidelines for men every week of the year, the research found.

The new figures come as the Scottish Government pushes for a minimum price for alcohol to tackle the country’s drink-related problems.

The study – based on industry sales data analysed by NHS Health Scotland – looked in part at sales of pure alcohol per person, as opposed to total volumes of alcoholic drink.

According to a report published on Sunday, sales for the year to September 2009 averaged 12.2 litres of pure alcohol per person over the age of 18.

The Scottish Government said the figure, which remained virtually static since 2005, is equivalent to more than 46 bottles of vodka, 537 pints of beer or 130 bottles of wine. In England and Wales, the total for the same period was 9.7 litres per person.

Average weekly sales for Scottish drinkers were 26.5 units per person over the age of 18, equivalent to around 11 pints of beer or three bottles of wine.

In England and Wales, the figure was 21.8, slightly higher than the recommended weekly maximum for a man.