Annual Report 2023/24 - Monitoring Progress

19% of people in Shetland were Drinking at Harmful Levels between 2018/22. This is a 1% decrease from 2017/21 and is lower than the Scottish rate of 23%, although, it is still higher than the 2021 target of 18%. Almost a fifth of people in Shetland drink above the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk guidelines. This includes 9% of women and 31% of men (2018/22). 

Shetland has a significantly worse rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions for 11-25 year olds (over double the Scottish rate), and has had a higher rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions compared to Scotland.  Shetland has a high prevalence of alcohol availability compared to Scotland with more than double the number of licenses per head of the population.

More information on alcohol harms in Shetland can be found on Alcohol Focus Scotland’s local profiles.

30% of People Felt They Could Influence Decisions Affecting their Local Area in 2022. Since 2016 the figure has fluctuated from 25% in 2018 to 34% in 2021. This compares to a Scottish average of 18%.
37% of people said they wanted Greater Involvement in Decision Making in 2022. The 2022 percentage has decreased from 2021 and the 2016 baseline. This could indicate there is more satisfaction with opportunities to get involved in decision-making, and the desire to be involved is more readily met; alternatively it could indicate that there is an apathy towards decision-making, and the community are disengaged from participation processes.

37% of people said they wanted Greater Involvement in Decision Making in 2022. The 2022 percentage has decreased from 2021 and the 2016 baseline. This could indicate there is more satisfaction with opportunities to get involved in decision-making, and the desire to be involved is more readily met; alternatively it could indicate that there is an apathy towards decision-making, and the community are disengaged from participation processes.