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" A new report has highlighted the extent of Scotland&amp;#039;s alcohol misuse problem. NHS doctors have detailed the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption in &amp;#039;The Human Cost of Alcohol Misuse&amp;#039;, which also contains suggestions for reducing harm. Over the last year, 42,430 patients have been discharged from Scottish hospitals for alcohol-related problems. Around 111,200 GP consultations were carried out for alcohol misuse in 2006 and there has been a 400 per cent increase in the number of people diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease since 1996. The report contains a number of quotes from NHS doctors, including one who described alcohol misuse as a &amp;#039;tragedy unfolding&amp;#039;. Another said that he sees patients suffering the ill-effects of alcohol every single day. &amp;#039;Many are disbelieving when I point out the effect of alcohol on their condition - &amp;#039;Everyone I know drinks like I do, many drink more&amp;#039;, they say. Some seem to think it is a national duty to drink to excess - it is part of their Scots identity,&amp;#039; the doctor revealed. Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, said the nation&amp;#039;s &amp;#039;growing booze culture&amp;#039; is creating serious health problems. He warned that over 60 medical conditions are linked to alcohol and said: &amp;#039;The lives of far too many Scots are being compromised and cut short by our relationship with alcohol.&amp;#039; The Scottish government has recognised the dangerous levels of alcohol misuse north of the border and recently revealed that a new health bill will soon be introduced to tackle the problem.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a17947/doctors-warn-of-human-cost-of-alcohol/>