BOOZE CAUSES 1 IN 25 WORLD DEATHS; Researchers back increase in prices.

Byline: Lachlan Mackinnon

ONE in 25 deaths worldwide are caused by booze, it was revealed yesterday.

It causes 6.3 per cent of male deaths and 1.8 per cent of female deaths, according to studies in medical journal The Lancet.

In Scotland, the financial cost - in terms of treatment and law enforcement - was pounds 220 per head of population.

Scottish government moves to bring in a minimum price for booze were backed by the international research team.

Progression They said: "Policies that increase alcohol prices delay the start of drinking, slow young people's progression towards drinking large amounts and reduce young people's heavy drinking and binge drinking activity."

Most deaths caused by alcohol were through injuries, cancer, cardiovascular disease and liver cirrhosis.

Overall, alcohol-related deaths have risen since 2000 mainly because of increases in the number of women drinking. In Europe, 10 per cent of deaths are linked to excessive boozing, while the figure rises to 15 per cent in former Soviet Bloc nations.

Related research showed booze had killed three million Russians since alcohol restrictions were loosened in 1987.

Globally, people consume 12 units a week, or 6.2 litres of pure ethanol a year.

The figure is highest in Europe, where average intake is 21.5 units a week, equal to 11.9 litres of ethanol a year.

But 45 per cent of men and 66 per cent of women worldwide don't drink at all.

Alex Salmond told MSPs yesterday that bringing in a minimum price would be a "courageous" move.

The goverment also plan to ban discount booze deals.

During First Minister's Questions, Salmond said: "It's a groundbreaking area of public health policy.

"The eyes of the world are on us and we must have the courage to introduce minimum pricing."

RECORD VIEW: Page 8'We must have the courage to introduce minimum prices'

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POLICY: Salmond speaks out yesterday