The number of people treated in Dundee climbed into four figures for the first time, with 1102 requiring treatment. Angus treated 399 people, a rise of 47, while Perth and Kinross treated 835 people — a rise of 40.

Despite the rise in Tayside, the number of alcohol-related discharges in Scottish hospitals fell by over a thousand to 41,922 in 2008/09.

The figures come in the wake of MSPs’ rejection of minimum pricing for alcohol, a key component of the SNP Government’s Alcohol Bill.

Public health minister Shona Robison said the statistics made “grim reading” and provided “more evidence” that the tide of alcohol harm must be turned.

Dr Peter Rice, consultant psychiatrist with NHS Tayside’s drugs and substance misuse service, said, “Although there has been a lot of talk about price and harm, nothing has been done and we’re still seeing cheap deals. We’re really still waiting for some effective action.”