Scotland alcohol consumption world's eighth highest

Government research, based on a detailed analysis of alcohol sales in 2007, show that people in the country drank the equivalent of 50 million litres of pure alcohol, or 11.8 litres for everyone over the age of 16.

Scotland has jumped to eighth place in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) league table of alcohol sales.

England and Wales had an average consumption figure of 9.9 litres per head of population in 2007.

The research also shows that the numbers of men dying due to alcohol abuse is double the figure for that of females.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has come under pressure to act to reduce alcohol consumption.

A team from Glasgow University and the Medical Research Council conducted the study. They mapped alcohol related mortality across the country.