FEWER teenagers are drinking than ever before in Scotland at the same time that the number of adults dying as a result of excess alcohol consumption continued to climb.
The latest figures reveal that alcohol deaths have risen for a fourth year in a row in Scotland amid alarm over an emerging public health threat.
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In 2016, there were an average of 22 deaths a week in Scotland - more than two and a half times the number recorded in 1981.
These are defined as deaths caused entirely by alcohol misuse - such as alcoholic liver disease - and not deaths where alcohol may have been a factor, such as road accidents, falls or some cancers.
Death rates from alcohol are highest among the 55 to 64 age group, and combined deaths and hospital admissions are eight times higher in the most deprived areas of Scotland than in the most affluent.
The increase in deaths since 2012 - reversing the previous decade-long decline - comes at a time when teenagers have been reversing the habits of previous generations and increasingly turning their back on booze.
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By 2015 - the latest year for which data is available - only 66 per cent of 15-year-olds and 28 per cent of 13-year-olds said they had ever had an alcoholic drink. That is the lowest since records began in 1990 and down from a peak in 2002 of 90 and 70 per cent respectively.
The figures have been compiled by NHS Health Scotland in their second annual evaluation of alcohol trends.
Mark Robinson, public health intelligence principal at NHS Health Scotland said: "That is a pattern that is seen across the world almost, not just in England and other countries in the UK but further afield.
"There's quite a lot of research activity going on to try to understand why that is.
"It's not exclusive to alcohol. It's happening among health behaviours as well. It's a very interesting and welcome phenomenon."
However, he added that it was unclear from the statistics alone what is behind the recent growth in deaths among adults.
Alcohol-specific deaths peaked at 29.2 per 100,000 in 2003, before dropping steadily to 18.8 per 100,000 in 2012. By 2016, they had climbed back up to 21.5 per 100,000.
Mr Robinson added: "What we would say is that it's very concerning given the scale of the decline we've seen since the mid-2000s.
"For that to stall and then increase again is a real public health concern, and that increase has mostly been driven by those living in the most deprived areas so that is where inequalities in alcohol-related harm have started to creep up again."
The report found that the total volume of alcohol sold in Scotland in 2017 was equivalent to every adult consuming19.6 units per week - 40 per cent more than the recommended guidelines.
Although this is similar to the volume recorded in 1994, there has been a huge shift by drinkers away from pubs, clubs and restaurants in favour of buying the bulk of alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences.
The latter now accounts for 73 per cent of sales and, overall, alcohol in 2017 was 64 per cent more affordable than it was in 1980 - largely because increases in disposable income have far outstripped any increase in the price of beer, wine, and spirits.
The latest report predates the launch of minimum alcohol pricing, which came into force on May 1 2018.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: "Almost half of all alcohol sold in supermarkets and off-licences in 2017 was sold at less than 50 pence per unit.
“Our world leading minimum unit pricing policy now ensures no alcohol can be sold below 50 pence per unit.
"I am confident minimum unit pricing will make a significant difference to the harms shown in this report.
"Those that drink most heavily and live in deprived areas experience the greatest levels of harm, and they will benefit most from minimum unit pricing.”
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