Worst 'alcohol harm' areas in Scottish Borders identified

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A report has highlighted the parts of the Scottish Borders which are worst hit by "alcohol-related harm".

It found that despite some improvements, Galashiels North, Galashiels West and Langlee remained the "most negatively affected".

The regional alcohol profile summary uses information from police, health services and the council.

It also found that alcohol-related antisocial behaviour had fallen to its lowest level in five years.

Among its other key findings for 2015/16 were:

  • Galashiels North has the highest rate of off-sales premises per 1,000 residents
  • the number of occasional licences has fallen
  • Galashiels North and Langlee have the highest rate of hospital stay and emergency department attendances linked to alcohol
  • the total number of licensed premises remains unchanged

Overall, the report found the region had a lower rate of alcohol-related hospital stays than the Scottish average.

However, parts of Galashiels, Hawick, Eyemouth and Peebles exceeded those rates.

The rate of alcohol-related deaths in the region has also remained "consistently" below nationwide levels.

The full findings of the report