Changes in the Incidence of Alcohol-Related Problems in North-East Scotland, 1974–1982

Abstract
The age-standardized rates of 1st-ever alcohol-related diagnoses among both general hospital inpatients and psychiatric referrals were examined in the Grampian region from 1974-1982. Male general hospital admissions in this category rose steeply from 1974-1978, but then declined steeply thereafter. This may reflect a beneficial effect on male drinking habits as a result of the liberalization of Scottish licensing laws. The gap is apparently narrowing between male and female rates of alcohol-related illness.