Scotland’s accident and emergency rooms dealt with 36,000 alcohol-related admissions in 2009, government figures have shown.
There were 39,278 alcohol-related discharges from Scottish hospitals, with 92 per cent of these coming from A&E departments.
Scots are also continuing to out-drink their English and Welsh neighbours, consuming an average of 11.9 litres of alcohol each in 2009.
The Alcohol Statistics 2011 report found the alcohol market was worth £3.64 billion in 2009, with off-sales or drinking at home becoming increasingly popular.
Scots consumed almost 51 million litres of pure alcohol, the equivalent of 11.9 litres per person over the age of 16.
While the amount of alcohol consumed from licensed premises, such as bars and pubs decreased from 2008, there was an increase in off-sales consumption, rising from just over 32.9 million litres to over 34.4 million litres, with Scottish households spending an average of £6.50 on alcohol to take home each week.
The volume of spirits consumed by Scots was double that of their English and Welsh neighbours, with 3.5 litres of spirits per person each year compared to 1.8 litres.
More than a third of men and women were exceeding the recommended daily limits for alcohol units on their highest drinking day during the week, while more than 50 per cent said they drank most of their alcohol at home.
