Printed in Great Britain Regional Variation in Alcoholism Rates in Britain: The Effect of Provision and Use of Services

The range of variation in Scottish and English psychiatric admission rates for alcoholism is represented by the Highlands, Tayside and Kent. When other medical and psychiatric services, notably psychiatric extramural services, are taken into account, the considerable variation almost disappears. With the background of recently reported similar average alcohol consumption in England and Scotland, these results are discussed with respect to variations in geography, admission policy and provision of services. Regional variation in rates of alcoholism has long been accepted as part of the variation in British life styles. The stereotype of the drunken northerner, epitomized in music hall songs such as 'I belong to Glasgow ' has been supported by official rates of indicators of alcoholism. The report of a subcommittee of the Scottish Home and Health Department Standing Medical Advisory Committee1 found that in 1962 of all psychiatric admissions 10.9 % were alcoholics in Scotland, but only 2.4 % in England and Wales