Latest news with #AlastairMacGilchrist
The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Time to challenge normalisation of drinking at work events, medics say
A partnership of the Medical Royal Colleges and the Faculty of Public Health in Scotland and based at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, SHAAP was set up in 2006 to combat the escalation in alcohol-related health damage in Scotland. It provides the authoritative clinical voice on how policy makers and clinicians can reduce alcohol-related harms in Scotland. Scotland continues to face a significant alcohol problem, with adults who drink alcohol consuming an average of 21.6 units per week, according to the most recent Public Health Scotland figures. This is more than 50% above the Chief Medical Officers' safe drinking guidelines of 14 for both men and women. READ MORE: Swinney urged to act in bid to reverse near-record alcohol deaths Programme for Government: Alcohol ban on trains to end Scotland's drug and alcohol deaths remain among worst in Europe Meanwhile, according to research, the cost of workplace hangovers to the UK economy has been calculated at £1.2bn to £1.4bn a year. Official statistics also show that employed people are more likely to drink heavily than unemployed people - and and that the proportion of workers drinking excessively is highest in managerial and professional occupations, where about a third of staff report heavy drinking. SHAAP has produced advice for heavy drinkers who are thinking about cutting back or stopping drinking alcohol which can be accessed by any employer. Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of SHAAP, commented: "Alcohol can often be present at work-related events such as socials, networking and conferences and fears about peer pressure, performance and fitting in can make people feel like they have no choice but to drink. Employers have a duty of care to ensure that no one feels pressured to drink alcohol and having robust alcohol policies for every workplace is essential. This Alcohol Awareness Week, SHAAP is encouraging employers to look at their own practices and consider whether alcohol is being prioritised over health and wellbeing. Alcohol deaths have increased to highest level in 15 years (Image: PA) 'We also need a national conversation about the role alcohol plays in the workplace. The evidence is clear that it negatively affects productivity and leads to lost working hours, while causing serious health problems among working age people. It can also lower inhibitions, causing people to behave inappropriately, which can lead to stress, anxiety and even the loss of employment. 'Despite these known harms, drinking has become normalised at work events. It's time to challenge this and ask the question: should an intoxicating, health-harming substance like alcohol really be a part of work?' Last year, SHAAP called upon the Scottish Government to ban alcohol sponsorship and advertising in sport, arguing there is a duty to protect vulnerable groups from exposure to a 'health-harming product'. Elinor Jayne, who leads SHAAP, said it is unfair on vulnerable groups such as recovering alcoholics and young people to be exposed to alcohol advertising when they are watching or attending sports such as football. Furthermore, she shared her belief that the prevalence of such marketing contributes to an increase in consumption across the general population, running contrary to the Scottish Government's stated aim of reducing alcohol intake in Scotland. She said: All the evidence from the World Health Organisation and elsewhere suggests that if the government do want to protect our health, they do have to take measures such as banning sports sponsorship by the alcohol industry. 'When you change something like this it is difficult to imagine what it is going to be like, but sometimes you've got to be brave and have a bit of political leadership on issues like this if we are to try and reset our relationship with alcohol. 'That is something we desperately need to do, and we can't just rest on one policy alone like minimum unit pricing. We need to shift the whole lot and take forward measures like banning sports sponsorship by alcohol companies.'
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots drinkers face 'automatic' alcohol price increases under plan pushed by health experts
Scots face "automatic" increases in the cost of alcohol under a plan being pushed by health experts. A coalition of 70 organisations have called on the SNP Government to do more to bring down the number of deaths from drinking in Scotland each year, which have rocketed in the years since lockdown . The group - which includes charities and doctors' organisations - made the demand after figures showed Scotland has seen the highest number of drink-related deaths since 2008. The signatories said the Government must use the year before the next Holyrood election to prioritise early detection and treatment of liver disease, alongside other targeted measures. Among the plans being pushed is an automatic increase in minimum unit pricing (MUP) which would kick-in without MSPs' approval. The flagship SNP policy has so fair failed to bring down deaths from alcohol despite being raised again last year. The initial price was 50p per unit of alcohol - but last year this was hiked to 65p. Campaigners want to "mandate the provision of health-related information, including health warnings, on alcohol products". The letter has been signed by a host of groups, including Alcohol Focus Scotland, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, The Salvation Army, the British Heart Foundation and the Scottish Drugs Forum. They have made a number of calls ahead of the 2025 Programme for Government announcement – which will be the last time First Minister John Swinney will set out his Government's policy priorities before next year's election. As well as expanding early liver disease tests, they have called for nurse-led alcohol care teams to be established in hospitals to provide specialised care to those with alcohol problems. Alcohol detoxification services should also be improved, they said, with a bigger and better range of detox and rehab centres. Alcohol deaths have risen across the UK in recent years, although Scotland continues to have the highest rate. In 2023, 1,277 deaths from conditions wholly caused by alcohol were recorded in Scotland. Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, chairman of signatory Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, said while the Scottish Government declared alcohol harms to be a public health emergency in 2021, there has not been an emergency response. 'Deaths and illness from alcohol continue to rise but this is not inevitable,' he added. 'If politicians take bold action now we can prevent future harm. 'Alcohol is linked to over 100 illnesses including cancer, heart disease and liver disease. Investment in treatment saves lives – for every £1 spent on treatment there is a £3 return. Alcohol care teams, for example, can lower the number of acute hospital admissions, readmissions, and deaths, along with improving the quality of care for people with alcohol-related health problems." Laura Mahon, of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "For too long, we have seen deaths from alcohol continue to rise. "We are continually fed the message that alcohol has an essential role in our lives, normalising drinking. We must challenge this with cost-effective prevention measures as part of a robust strategy.' Health Secretary Neil Gray said: "Research estimated that our world-leading minimum unit pricing policy has saved hundreds of lives and likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions." To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Number of Scots with chronic liver disease expected to rise by 54 percent
The number of people in Scotland living with chronic liver disease is expected to increase by 54% by 2044. It equates to an additional 23,100 people living with chronic liver disease in 2044, compared to 2019. It currently stands at 43,200 cases and figures released by Public Health Scotland expect it to rise to 66,300. It is believed work could be done to ensure this projected increases could be prevented at all levels. Recent trends have illustrated the rate of hospital stays for chronic liver disease increased by 12% from 2013/14 to 2022/23 but the mortality rate decreased by the same percentage. Early diagnosis can reduce the impact and reducing exposure to risk factors such as alcohol use, obesity and hepatitis B and C is important. Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, Chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, said: 'Today's estimate by PHS predicts that by 2044, there will be a rise of over 50% in chronic liver disease in Scotland, placing a huge burden on our already-struggling NHS. 'Over 70% of this liver disease burden is due to alcohol, and these figures underline the severity of the public health emergency from alcohol that Scotland is facing, with the latest figures showing alcohol is directly responsible for 1,277 deaths annually. READ MORE Deaths of three newborn babies 'could have been avoided', inquiry finds 'Such an increase in liver disease is not inevitable. Public health measures to reduce alcohol consumption will help. Minimum unit pricing is already reducing the level of harm, but the Scottish Government needs to do more such as restrict alcohol marketing. 'There are many missed opportunities to intervene to reduce heavy alcohol intake before liver damage occurs. Like cancer, liver disease is often silent until it has reached an advanced, incurable stage, and so, just like cancer, early detection is vital. 'We now have the tools to do this and early detection of liver disease in at-risk individuals such as heavy drinkers needs to become routine practice. 'Today's PHS figures are a call to action. If we introduce public health preventative measures and make early detection and treatment of both heavy drinking and liver disease routine, we can prevent this huge rise in liver disease. But we need to act now.' More than 70% of chronic liver disease is caused by alcohol and the percentage of liver disease deaths where alcohol was the primary cause has almost doubled since 1982. Laura Mahon, Deputy Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: 'These shocking figures once again highlight the fact that Scotland is in the grip of ongoing alcohol emergency, which is only likely to worsen without a genuine emergency response. 'Alcohol-specific deaths have reached a 15-year high. Alcohol-related liver disease is responsible for most of these deaths, with 805 people lost to this disease in 2023. It is a silent killer, which can affect people over the long-term, often showing no obvious symptoms until it's too late. Just regularly drinking over 14 units per week increases your risk of developing liver disease. 'It doesn't have to be this way. Each of these deaths is entirely preventable, and there are a range of well evidenced and cost-effective prevention measures available which could be adopted. 'These include increased use of non-invasive liver scans to enable those at high risk to be identified sooner and provided with care and support to address their liver problem and their alcohol use. Restrictions on alcohol marketing and introducing clear health warning labels on alcohol products should form part of a new comprehensive alcohol strategy. 'Not only would these measures save thousands of lives, they would also substantially reduce the financial pressures on our health service, ultimately delivering better healthcare for everyone.'
