Alcohol deaths among Scottish women rise 3% despite overall fall

Scotland’s official health statistics show that 1,152 alcohol‑specific deaths were registered in 2025, a 3% reduction compared with the previous year. The same data reveal a 3% rise in deaths among women, while deaths among men continued to fall.

The figures were released by NHS Scotland and reported by BBC News UK. The agency said the overall decline marks the lowest rate since the COVID‑19 pandemic began, but the gender split highlights a growing disparity.

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Overall death figures fall but gender gap widens

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems welcomed the drop in total deaths but warned that the increase among women is “deeply concerning”. The charity’s chair, Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, told the BBC that the trend runs counter to recent public‑health efforts.

It is deeply concerning that while deaths among men have fallen, deaths among women have risen.

Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, chair, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems

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The Scottish Government responded by confirming a £160 million investment in alcohol and drug programmes for the current financial year. A spokesperson said the money will support treatment services, prevention campaigns and community projects across the country.

Health advocates highlighted that people living in Scotland’s most deprived areas are now 4.8 times more likely to die from alcohol‑related causes than those in the least deprived neighbourhoods. Dr MacGilchrist said the inequality “cannot be accepted as the new normal”.

Personal stories illustrate the statistics. Paula Gibson from Aberdeen recounted her daughter Clare’s 20‑year battle with alcohol, ending in a death from fatty liver disease in November 2023. Gibson’s account was included in the BBC report to humanise the numbers.

The government’s funding plan is set to be detailed in a series of regional consultations later this year. Local health boards will be asked to submit implementation proposals by early 2026.

Residents who need support can contact NHS Scotland’s alcohol helpline or local community services. The Scottish Government’s website lists contact details for treatment providers and advice centres.