Alcohol misuse is costing Scotland a staggering £2.25 billion - more than double previous estimates - according to a report published in May 2008.
The latest data show the annual cost of alcohol misuse to business, the NHS, social services, police and courts.
This is spread over the NHS (£405 million); social work services (£170 million); criminal justice and the fire service (£385 million); wider economic costs (£820 million) and human/social costs (£470 million).
And it warns that the new £2.25 billion figure may be a significant underestimate.
Among the findings, the report shows:
- Lower productivity at work and days off from hangovers could be costing Scottish business £400 million
- The use of hospital beds to treat drinkers could be costing the NHS more than £150 million
- Alcohol is costing A&E services another £32.3 million
- Police response to alcohol misuse is estimated to be swallowing £288 million - with alcohol assumed to be behind 40 per cent of violent crimes
- Premature deaths caused by alcohol abuse are estimated to be costing Scotland £328 million
Read the full report: Costs of Alcohol Use and Misuse in Scotland