McAvoy links Scotland’s drinking culture to treatment within UK

James McAvoy has argued that Scotland’s reputation for heavy drinking is linked to how Scotland and other Celtic nations have been treated within the UK, describing them as second-class citizens. His remarks, made in a US podcast interview, drew criticism from Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton, who called the claim “absurd” and accused him of using a serious health issue to promote nationalism.

McAvoy also said many Scots want another independence referendum and claimed Westminster had made a new vote unlawful, while criticising the leadership of the 2014 campaign for failing to answer questions about currency. Alcohol Focus Scotland chief executive Carolyn Lochhead said more than 1,000 people in Scotland died because of alcohol last year, adding that alcohol-related harm affects the UK as a whole. McAvoy lives in London and said his children are English.