Blow to Scotland alcohol minimum pricing plans
Plans to introduce a minimum price on alcohol in Scotland suffered a further significant blow yesterday.
During a debate, called for by the Conservatives, MSPs rejected a Government amendment seeking support for minimum pricing by 45 votes to 58.
However, MSPs also voted against a Tory motion opposing minimum pricing by 74 to 28.
Despite the vote yesterday, the Scottish National Party (SNP) has vowed to press ahead with its plans to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit as part of its Alcohol Bill.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the minimum pricing proposal will be included in the Alcohol Bill "that will be becoming before the Scottish Parliament before the end of the year".
He said yesterday's vote "has no baring on the Bill's progress."
"It was a talking shop, effectively."
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said: "The SNP's preferred approach of blanket minimum pricing is all but dead.
"Now is the time for the SNP to drop their policy of minimum pricing which is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry.
"Instead they must work with us and the other parties supporting measures on which we can all agree, like targeting tax increases on problem drinks such as alcopops and strong ciders."
Flawed assumptions
Drinks giant SABMiller welcomed the vote against minimum pricing. "Minimum pricing is based on many flawed assumptions, one of which is that people who buy less expensive alcohol do so for the purpose of abusing it.
"All indicators are that only a small minority of the population drinks harmfully, yet minimum pricing unfairly penalises the law-abiding, sensible majority, as demonstrated by research from the Centre for Economic and Business Research.
"Whilst we cannot ignore the small segment of society which drinks too much, measures that drive cultural change such as personal responsibility, stricter enforcement of existing laws, and assistance to those who need it are things that are more likely to make a difference."
