Morgan welcomes action to tackle Scotland’s drink time-bomb

Morgan welcomes action to tackle Scotland’s drink time-bomb

MSP for the South of Scotland Alasdair Morgan today (Tuesday) welcomed the launch of the Scottish Government’s new approach to tackling alcohol misuse and change Scotland's relationship with drink.

Key proposals in the consultation document include:

* Raising the minimum age for off-sales alcohol purchases to 21.

* Setting a minimum price at which a unit of alcohol can be sold.

* Ending 'three for the price of two' type promotions, which encourage impulse buying of extra alcohol.

* A 'social responsibility fee' for some alcohol retailers to help pay for the consequences of alcohol misuse and reduce the burden on the general taxpayer.

* Introducing alcohol-only checkouts in large off-sales premises, so that alcohol, like cigarettes, is thought of as a special case and not 'just another product'.

* Confirmation of a record 85 million pounds increase in alcohol prevention, treatment and support services, bringing total spend to 120 million pounds over the next three years (as previously announced as part of the Spending Review).

Mr Morgan said:

“We already know that serious and anti-social drinking is a major issue in Dumfries & Galloway. Between 1997 and 2005 the incidence of alcohol related liver disease doubled. Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary will tell anyone that asks that one of the biggest problems the force faces is anti-social behaviour and crime committed against a backdrop of inebriation.

“Across Scotland misuse of alcohol is increasingly seen as a major problem which requires radical action on the part of government if we are ever to achieve a healthier relationship with alcohol.

“There is a raft of shocking statistics, many of which are mentioned in the consultation document, all of which demonstrate that the country’s relationship with alcohol is out of control at present.

“Alcohol is of course part of Scottish culture, and the Scots’ whisky industry in particular is one of Scotland’s biggest assets. Locally, we have the Bladnoch Distillery and Sulwath brewers providing high quality specialised products and contributing to the local economy.

“This consultation is not intended to be anti-alcohol; indeed it is not alcohol itself which is the problem, but rather the way in which many of us drink it, and the consequences that has for the rest of society.

“I hope that people from across civic society in this region will take part in the consultation process. There will only be a successful outcome if all points of view are taken into consideration.”