MORE than 10 litres of pure alcohol was consumed last year for every adult in Scotland, a new report on the nation’s drinking has revealed.

In 2017 the amount of drink sold in Scotland was the equivalent to 19.6 units a week for every person - higher than the UK recommended limit of 14 units a week for men and women.

Lucie Giles, lead author of the Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy Monitoring Report 2018 said it showed alcohol consumption was still a “significant public health concern”.

Almost half (47 per cent) of alcohol sold in shops and supermarkets last year cost less than 50p per unit - the new minimum unit price for drink which has been brought in by the Scottish Government.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said: “Our world leading minimum unit pricing policy now ensures no alcohol can be sold below 50p per unit. I am confident minimum unit pricing will make a significant difference to the harms shown in this report.”

Across Scotland adults drank an average of 10.2 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2017, according to the new NHS Health Scotland report.

And while more Scots are heeding the recommended drinking guidelines, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of people were consuming more than this.