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Scottish ambulance crews are regularly subjected to violence, aggression and sexual harassment when responding to alcohol-related emergencies, according to new research from the University of Stirling.
The study found that such callouts not only expose staff to high levels of abuse, but also place additional strain on already stretched ambulance resources. Researchers said stronger alcohol regulation and improved support for people with chronic alcohol problems are needed to help reduce demand on services over time.
Funded by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office, the qualitative study interviewed 27 frontline ambulance clinicians across Scotland, including paramedics and technicians, along with four senior Scottish Ambulance Service staff.
Participants described facing unpredictable and sometimes violent behaviour in bars, clubs and on the streets. One paramedic technician said:
“The only times I’ve been physically threatened, if not assaulted, have always been drunk patients. I’ve been punched, kicked, bitten – even chased with knives.”
Sexual harassment was also reported, particularly by women. Another technician said:
“You don’t know how intoxicated patients are going to turn. One minute they can be nice and the next minute they can just turn so nasty.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of alcohol-related harm and addiction in Scotland, and we strongly condemn violence and aggression against our staff. It is not acceptable.
“These incidents can have a significant and lasting impact on our people, sometimes even leading them to leave the ambulance service. They have the right to carry out their work helping patients and saving lives without fear of assault or abuse, and we will work with Police Scotland to take action against perpetrators.”
The study highlights the toll of repeated alcohol-related callouts, often to the same patients, which staff said consume significant time and resources. Call volumes typically rise around football matches and the festive season, compounding pressures on emergency response.
Dr Isabelle Uny, Research Fellow at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health and lead author of the paper, said ambulance staff continue to show “a deep duty of care” despite the challenges.
“We found that staff treated experiences of violence or harassment as routine,” she said.
Previous research by the university shows that one in six ambulance callouts in Scotland are alcohol-related.
Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, Director of the Institute and principal investigator on the project, said the findings come at a crucial time as both the Scottish and UK governments review alcohol policy.
“We already know what measures work, restricting availability, increasing price and reducing marketing,” she said. “It’s now up to local and national governments to decide to take those measures.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said the research was “a stark reminder” of the burden alcohol places on emergency services.
“Current UK government plans to make alcohol even more accessible are deeply concerning,” he said. “They risk exacerbating pressures on ambulance services and making it harder for frontline workers to do their jobs.”
The research forms part of a wider study, The Impact of Minimum Pricing of Alcohol on Ambulance Callouts in Scotland, which examined data collected between 2019 and 2022.
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