 The weekend was the busiest time for emergencies |
The number of alcohol-related admissions to hospitals has fallen slightly over the past year in Scotland, according to new figures. NHS Scotland statistics show the total stands at just over 36,000.
However, the number of men and women suffering from alcoholic liver disease continued to rise, up 25% in the past three years.
The areas with the highest number of admissions were Glasgow, followed by Ayrshire and Arran.
The figure for all alcohol-related conditions for 2003/4 stood at 36,369, down from 37,482 last year.
Alcohol-related liver disease admissions have risen from 4,307 in 2001/02, to 5,306 this year.
Figures also showed that 63 children under the age of 14 were admitted with alcohol poisoning and another 120 had been admitted acutely intoxicated.
In addition, more than 900 children aged between 14 and 17 were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related conditions.
But in the under-14 age group, the number of incidents involving alcohol dropped to 254 in 2002/3, from just under 290 in 1997/98.
Across the week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday were the busiest times for emergency admissions, accounting for 55% of all cases and 76% of all cases under 18.
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