Summary
There can be no doubt Scotland has a serious problem with alcohol. In 12 years, the number of people with alcohol-related liver disease has increased by 52% and alcohol kills six people every day in Scotland. The SNP government's Alcohol Bill includes a proposal for minimum pricing as a way to reduce problem drinking. Supporters claim it would be effective in curbing excess drinking among young people and heavy drinkers. Opponents argue it would merely boost the supermarkets' profits and unfairly penalise low- income modest drinkers but have little effect on bingers and those whose consumption is affecting their health.
Without support from opposition parties at Holyrood, it will not become law. That should be the signal to halt the political point- scoring and instead seize the opportunity to evaluate evidence from what has been tried elsewhere. Scientists and public health advisers from the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have now written to MSPs urging them to implement minimum pricing with examples of where increasing cost has reduced consumption.See the full content of this document
Extract
Alcohol Problem Should Be Above Political Point-Scoring
Such evidence should be carefully evaluated. It is claimed that bann...
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