MORE than half of the alcohol related deaths reported throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde last year were recorded in across the city.

Of the 310 fatalities registered last year, 186 were living in Glasgow which means the problem is still higher than the Scottish average.

Despite these shocking figures, reports suggest there has been a slight decline of alcohol induced incidents between 2016 and 2017.

In 2017, 34.9 people per 100,000 in Glasgow died from an alcohol related illness compared to the Scottish average of 20.2 people per 100,000.

In 2016, 41.1 people per 100,000 in Glasgow and 23.8 people in Scotland per 100,000 died as a result of a drinking problem.

People in Scotland drink more than those living in other parts of the UK which is also more than the national guidelines.

Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) presented a report “Dying for a Drink” to Glasgow City Council’s licensing forum yesterday.

Stephanie Dargan, research assistant at Glasgow University, said: "Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland. We need to bear in mind the levels of deprivation. The number of alcohol related deaths continues to remain above the Scottish average.

“In the past 10 years the city has seen a reduction in alcohol related deaths. Men are more likely to become victims to drinking than women.

“In 2017, 76.7 percent of men died through excessive drinking compared to 23.3 percent of women. Many of the casualties were between 55 and 64-years-old and either single, widowed or divorced.”

SHAAP’s report also claims that alcohol is used as a form of self-medication to help people cope with personal issues which can develop into addition.