Doctors have called for licensing boards to consider health consequences when granting new licences for selling alcohol.

DOCTORS have called for licensing boards to consider health consequences when granting new licences for selling alcohol.

A British Medical Association Scotland report, which says the number of people with alcoholic liver disease has quadrupled since 1996, has called for improved regulation to reduce the concentration of shops and off licences selling alcohol in Scotland.

The report - The Human Cost of Alcohol Misuse - also calls for licensing legislation to be "strictly and rigorously enforced". This includes the use of penalties for breach of licence, suspension or removal of licences, and the use of test purchase to monitor underage sales.

Enforcement agencies should be "adequately funded and resourced" so that they can effectively carry out their duties, BMA Scotland said.

The report, which voices doctors' growing concerns over Scotland's relationship with alcohol, gave GPs the chance to speak out about their experiences from surgeries, and comes after it emerged that alcohol abuse costs Scotland £2.25bn a year.

The report warned: "A high density of alcohol outlets is associated with increased sales, drunkenness, violence and other alcohol-related problems.

"Consumers are likely to be deterred from purchasing alcohol when there is a lower density of outlets, due to the increased time and inconvenience involved in purchasing it."

BMA Scotland also underlined its previous support for strict regulation of "irresponsible promotional activities", and called for rises in taxes on alcohol to make it less affordable.

Dr Peter Terry, chairman of BMA Scotland, said: "We must now call time on Scotland's alcohol problem. Reversing the trend of alcohol misuse will require strong political leadership and bold action."

The BMA said 42,430 patients were discharged from hospital for alcohol-related conditions last year.

It described a 400% increase in the number of people with alcoholic liver disease since 1996.

One anonymous quote in the BMA report said: "There is a tragedy unfolding with rising levels of alcohol-related deaths, which could be addressed through the application of simple effective measures."

Dr Andrew Thomson, deputy chairman of the BMA's UK Board of Science, added: "No single action alone will change drinking behaviour in Scotland.

"There is strong and consistent evidence that an increase in price will reduce consumption and BMA Scotland believes that this should form a central plank of any strategy to deal with alcohol misuse.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Doctors are seeing the shocking toll of alcohol misuse every day in thousands of consultations, hospital visits and - at the worst end of the scale - in deaths.