Women and Alcohol: Scotland sees 60% rise in alcohol-fuelled violence by women

A 60% rise in violence by women in Scotland over the last the last 5 years is fuelled by the growing 'ladette' culture, an article in the Sunday Times claims. Senior police officers are reported to have confirmed alcohol's role in the increases, particularly as murder rates have remained constant but figures for assaults have risen sharply. The rise has also caused concern about the implications for the criminal justice system, with the number of women in prison rising by 90% in the last decade.

Earlier this month an article by Ian Gilmore, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, considered the cultural shift of drinking amongst women, its consequences and the policy context for addressing it.