ALCOHOL-specific deaths in the Highlands have risen by 17 per cent, according to new statistics. As outlined by the National Records of Scotland covering alcohol-specific deaths, Scotland saw a 7 per cent decrease in registered alcohol-specific deaths in 2024 compared to 2023. However, the Highlands saw an increase in alcohol-specific deaths for this same period — rising from 53 deaths, to 62. These figures kept the Highlands as the Scottish council area with the 6th highest alcohol-specific death rates, with the likes of Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire ranking highest on the list. The new statistics also revealed an increase in an age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 of alcohol-specific deaths in remote rural areas, rising from 13.7 to 15.3 between 2023 and 2024.