NHS BORDERS has carried out more than double the target number of alcohol brief interventions in the last year, as new statistics from ISD Scotland have shown.

In 2012/13 a total of 2,655 interventions were carried out which represented 213% of their target set by the Scottish Government of 1,247.

It means that NHS Borders is the second most successful health board in Scotland for alcohol brief interventions and they have now carried out nearly 10,000 since 2008.

The interventions take place when patients attend a medical practice and concerns are raised about potential alcohol misuse.

They are then spoken to by a health professional about the potential damage that alcohol can cause, and about ways of reducing the amount that they drink.

Local MSP John Lamont said: "Alcohol brief interventions are an important way of not only identifying individuals who might have problems with alcohol misuse, but also helping them to understand the damage that it can do and encourage them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

"It is therefore encouraging to see that NHS Borders are not only meeting the target number of interventions, but exceeding it by quite a distance.

"To reach 213% of your original target is hugely impressive and means that we are the second best region in Scotland when it comes to helping those who have problems with alcohol.

He added: "This will not only help the health of those living in the Borders, but will also help to provide a boost to our economy in the long term.

"With alcohol misuse being estimated at costing the Scottish economy between �2.5billion and �4.5billion every year it is important that we do what we can to see this bill reduced."