More than a quarter of people in the north and north-east are drinking “hazardous” amounts of alcohol every week.
According to a wide-ranging new report into the state of the nation’s health, people in the Highlands and Grampian are among the heaviest drinkers in the country.
But the study also reports that north and north-east residents are among the happiest in Scotland.
Nationally, the Scottish Health Survey shows “shocking” levels of child obesity, as well as “significantly lower” mental health among young women.
The report also confirms poor general health is strongly associated with deprivation.
In Grampian, 26% of adults are reported to drink harmful or hazardous amounts of alcohol every week – rising to 27% in Highland.
Alison Douglas, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said it was “concerning” so many people in the region were drinking more than the guideline 14 units a week.
But respondents from those areas also scored “significantly higher” than counterparts elsewhere in Scotland in the mental wellbeing test, suggesting people in the north and north-east were generally happier.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell has welcomed the findings, but opposition politicians claimed the report reflected the “abject failure” of the SNP’s management of the NHS.
Scottish Conservative sport spokesman Brian Whittle said: “There is one very clear message from this report – the SNP has failed on health.
“It has been in sole charge of the brief for almost 10 years now, and in that time its initiatives, announcements and education programmes have failed.”
The number of children breathing in second hand smoke has also fallen, according to the Scottish Health Survey, while a fifth of adults are eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Ms Douglas said: “It is concerning that around one in four people in Grampian and Highland are drinking above the low-risk guidelines.
“Regularly drinking more than 14 units per week increases the risk of many illnesses including breast, bowel and oral cancers, liver disease and mental health problems.
“We are encouraged to drink to excess by low prices, easy availability and endless promotions.
“Taking action on these issues will reduce our consumption and improve our health and wellbeing.”
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said it was “tremendous” fewer children were breathing in second-hand smoke.
But she added: “I recognise we have much more work to do to improve Scotland’s public health.
“Many of these indicators are static, or not improving as quickly as we want.
“This government is committed to bringing forward new strategies for obesity, mental health, oral health and alcohol.
“We also remain committed to introducing minimum unit pricing to tackle the damage which high strength low cost alcohol causes in our communities.”
