ALCOHOL use led to the deaths of 32 people in Dumfries and Galloway last year.
The figures for 2023 were released earlier this week by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).
And they are 11 per cent down on the previous year, when 36 people died locally.
It comes just weeks after NRS also published drug deaths statistics for 2023, showing that 12 people died in this region.
Now South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth is calling for more action to tackle problem drinking to bring down alcohol related deaths.
He said: “We shouldn’t forget that every one of these numbers represents the loss of someone who was much loved and who leaves behind grieving family and friends. My thoughts are with them.
“Dumfries and Galloway has seen a slight drop in the numbers of alcohol related deaths recorded in the region compared to last year, which is positive but there is more still to be done.
“Action is needed to tackle problem drinking to stop these preventable deaths. We need to see better access to recovery services to reduce alcohol-related harm and deaths, but also tackle the underlying causes of alcohol misuse.”
He added: “For too long the Scottish Government has failed to properly resource alcohol support services and it must implement measures beyond minimum unit pricing, including sensible restrictions on marketing and restoring the cuts made to alcohol treatment budgets, to address Scotland’s problematic and deadly relationship with alcohol.”
