Awash with alcohol

It is too easy to blame the Scottish Executive for a phenomenon that has far more to do with cultural change and increases in disposable income than politics and policy-making. There was no way of putting a decent gloss on yesterday's figures on the death and destruction being wrought by alcohol in Scotland. Alcohol-related illness and injuries now account for 4% of all hospital cases and are a factor in many more. Drink-related deaths are continuing to rise. And, within the overall figures, there are dramatic and worrying trends. Two decades ago, many women did not drink and female alcoholics were relatively rare. Yet, in 2005, alcohol was a "significant contributor" in the deaths of more than 700 women, a 25% increase in five years.