Scots drinkers have been urged to scale back consumption after research revealed alcohol sales were one-fifth higher in Scotland than south of the border.

Scots drinkers have been urged to scale back consumption after research revealed alcohol sales were one-fifth higher in Scotland than south of the border.

But the recommendation, from Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (Shaap), has sparked controversy, with alcohol industry body Portman Group accusing the charity of being patronising and "implying that Scots are the biggest liars in Britain".

Shaap yesterday drew attention to data on spending habits across the UK, showing that the average Scottish adult consumes 11.8 litres of pure alcohol per year - 20% more than in England and Wales.

The charity claimed that the research is the most accurate to date, and directly contradicts a statement made earlier this month by the chief executive of Portman Group that Scots drink no more than the rest of the British population.

A spokesman for Shaap said: "Previously, comparisons of the drinking habits of people in Great Britain have been made using data collected in population surveys. However, it is now well-established that survey data is not an accurate indicator of the amount of alcohol consumed, as people routinely under-report the amount of alcohol they drink by as much as a half.

"This means that statements based on survey data, such as the one recently made by the alcohol industry's Portman Group - who said Scots are drinking less than everyone else - need to be treated with caution. Although surveys are useful for telling us about drinking patterns and who is doing the drinking, sales data are a much more accurate estimation of how much alcohol is actually drunk."

Portman Group reacted furiously to the charity's position, maintaining that its statement earlier this month that Scots drink less than people in other parts of Britain was founded on accurate information from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

A spokesman for the group said: "Shaap is using a sample of sales data. The most reliable and authoritative data are from ONS, and these show that Scots drink less than people in the rest of Britain.

"We recognise that people may underestimate how much they drink, but expect any underestimation to be consistent over time and regions. Shaap is implying that Scots are the biggest liars in Britain. Frankly, this claim is patronising."

The disagreement comes as the government considers changes to alcohol legislation, with the possibility of increasing prices and restricting availability across Scotland, as well as banning off-sales to under-21s.

Dr Bruce Ritson, Shaap chairman, said the charity would welcome the introduction of such measures.

He said: "The most effective and efficient means of reducing the demand for alcohol are to regulate price and availability. Over the past few decades we have seen a progressive liberalisation of the alcohol market in the UK, with the result that alcohol is now available in more places, for longer periods, and at more affordable prices. Unfortunately, in that time, we have also seen a rise in consumption and an escalation of alcohol-related damage.

"The Scottish Government has put forward proposals for tackling alcohol misuse which will put in place checks and balances to curb the excesses of the market. Shaap fully supports these measures."

As the controversy continued, Professor Phil Hanlon, Professor of Public Health at the University of Glasgow, said he believed the argument was missing the crux of the problem.

He said: "What jumps out at me is that the average level of consumption in Scotland is well above the recommended safe limit for public consumption."

Current recommendations are that men should drink no more than 21 units per week, and women no more than 14. Average annual consumption of 11.8 litres of alcohol per person is equivalent to nearly 23 units per week.