Scotland urged to carry on with minimum price plan

The World Health Organisation has urged Scotland to plough on with plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

Speaking at an Alcohol Summit in Edinburgh this week Dr Peter Anderson, a consultant to the World Health Organisation, said: "Internationally, Scotland is seen as a public health leader. You had the courage to introduce smoke free pubs; let us hope that you have the same courage to introduce a minimum price for alcohol."

The forum, brought together around 100 representatives from politics, the NHS, universities, alcohol producers and retailers, interest groups and government.

Scotland Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who has led the drive to introduce a minimum price, said: "We know that alcohol misuse is damaging Scotland. It's fuelling violence, damaging our health and hurting our economy.

"The fact that you can buy a bottle of high strength cider for less than a bottle of water shows that it's time for action to be taken."

Meanwhile, Scottish doctors yesterday attacked the price of alcohol in the off-trade after findings from a survey on young people's drinking habits.

Dr Peter Terry, chairman of BMA Scotland said: "When alcohol is cheaper than bottled water, we have to worry about what message we are sending our children."

Proposals in the Scottish Government's Alcohol Framework, which will be included in a Bill later this year include:

• introducing a minimum price for a unit of alcohol

• a ban on off-sales promotions

• placing a duty on licensing boards to consider whether raising the off-sales purchase age to 21 is appropriate for their area

• a Social Responsibility Fee for some retailers

The Publican​ is also campaigning for the introduction of a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol. For more information visit Make it the Minimum​ and follow the link to sign our online petition​