Murdo says deaths due to alcohol remain “disgracefully high” in Fife.
His comments come after National Records of Scotland confirmed that 1,277 Scots lost their lives due to alcohol in 2023. The number of deaths was the highest since 2008, while those living in deprived areas were 4.5 times more likely to die from alcohol than those in the least deprived communities.
The figures also confirm that over 19,000 Scots have died from alcohol since the SNP came to power in 2007. In NHS Fife, 91 people died from alcohol in 2023, while 1,184 people have now died since 2007.
Murdo says the number of deaths show that the SNP’s flagship minimum unit pricing policy has “monumentally failed” to tackle Scotland’s crisis with alcohol. He has urged the SNP Government to finally back the Right to Recovery Bill, which is backed by frontline experts and would enshrine in law a right to treatment for all those who need it.
He added the number of deaths in Fife are “horrifying” and his thoughts are with all those grieving the loss of a loved one.
Commenting, Murdo said: “The number of deaths due to alcohol in Fife remain disgracefully high. Behind these figures are families grieving the loss of a loved one and my thoughts are with them.
“The number of deaths in Scotland from alcohol are horrifying and have hit their highest level in 15 years. The SNP must finally accept that their flagship minimum unit pricing policy – designed to tackle Scotland’s alcohol crisis – has monumentally failed.
“Instead, the SNP Government must finally give their backing to the Right to Recovery Bill, which will enshrine in law a right to treatment for all those struggling with addiction.
“The latest appalling level of deaths in Fife should be the catalyst for them to ensure it becomes law.”
