25 dead from drinking

ALCOHOL killed 25 people in Dumfries and Galloway last year.

Figures for alcohol-specific deaths have been published by National Records of Scotland.

And it showed a drop of seven in the number of such fatalities in this region in 2024, compared to 2023, when it was 32.

However, Dumfries and Galloway still had a worse rate than the neighbouring areas of the Borders (20) and South Ayrshire.

The WithYou charity, which offers support services locally for people with alcohol issues, have commented on death toll.

Director Louise Stewart said: “To demonstrate a real commitment to reducing alcohol-specific deaths, we are calling for alcohol care and treatment standards that ensure that people who need support now have a choice of treatment, as well as access to support and harm reduction measures, wherever they are in Scotland.

“We urge the Scottish Government to implement a comprehensive alcohol strategy that properly invests in prevention and to take urgent, ambitious, and far-reaching action to prevent today’s children and young people from becoming figures in a report published 10, 20, or even 30 years from now.

“Only by tackling root causes and our attitudes towards alcohol can we really turn the tide to stop Scotland’s harmful relationship with alcohol.”

She also urged anyone in Dumfries and Galloway who is worried about their drinking or that of a loved one, to get in touch.

WithYou offers a free and confidential webchat at wearewithyou.org.uk.