Changes in the incidence of alcohol-related problems in north-east Scotland, 1974-1982

The age-standardised rates of first-ever alcohol-related diagnoses amongst both general hospital in-patients and psychiatric referrals were examined in the Grampian region from 1974 to 1982. Male general hospital admissions in this category rose steeply from 1974 to 1978, but then declined steeply thereafter; it is concluded that this may reflect a beneficial effect on male drinking habits as a result of the liberalisation of Scottish licensing laws. The remaining data supported the belief that the gap is narrowing between male and female rates of alcohol-related illness.