Tayside Council on Alcohol chief gives full support to Scottish Government's minimum pricing plans
A leading expert on alcohol abuse in Tayside has backed the intentions of Scotland's health minister to tackle the nation's relationship with the bottle.
- Published in the Courier : 02.02.12
- Published online : 02.02.12 @ 01.56pm
Eric Knox, director of the Tayside Council on Alcohol (TCA), has given his full support to the words of Nicola Sturgeon after she restated her desire to introduce a minimum price on a unit of alcohol.
Writing in Wednesday's Courier, Ms Sturgeon said she found it ''deeply disappointing'' that the previous Alcohol Act of 2010 was not as strong as it may have been after opposition parties failed to back the minimum price plan.
However, stating her desire to rectify Scotland's self-destructive attitude towards drink, the health minister says the Scottish Government is ready to take action.
Offering his backing, Mr Knox believes that a strong message needs to be sent out to change public attitudes towards alcohol.
Asked if he would back the introduction of minimum pricing on a unit of alcohol, he said: ''Absolutely — 100%. It's about sending down a message from the top.
''Everyone should realise that there are many problems which relate to our culture of drinking and we need to start tackling these issues. If you can reduce the availability of alcohol to people then it may make them think twice about drinking.''
Tayside Council on Alcohol assists up to 700 people across the region every year to deal with alcohol misuse. As well as helping those who abuse alcohol, services are also available to those who are affected by others who drink too much.
02.14pm - 02.02.2012 mark - dundee, scotland Report This
so Mr.Knox says "It's about sending down a message from the top" - is he going to campaign to remove subsidies from alcohol in the bars of parliament? or is he going to ask the bars of parliament to stop serving alcohol? after all very few, if any, workplaces serve alcohol. No I thought he wouldnt
04.17pm - 02.02.2012 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotalnd Report This
Mark .... ermmm, what has Mr Knox got to do with what happens in Parliament .... and how do you know what his views on it are? This man and his colleagues fight alcohol abuse every day. Give him some credit for knowing what he's talking about.
08.03pm - 02.02.2012 Gill - Dundee, UK Report This
Stuart, nice of you to pop up and stick up for your party. Your credibility however is tarnished by the same Sheffield Study the SNP like to quote. It has shown that whilst OAP's and moderate drinkers will be hit by this, problem drinkers wouldn't. That isn't right.
08.06pm - 02.02.2012 Dundee Postgrad - Dundee, UK Report This
I don't think another couple of pennies is going to do it. What we need is for police to start enforcing the laws on public drunkenness again. Those found drunk on the streets should be chucked in a drunk-tank till they sober up. For the first couple of weekends they'll need a big tank.....
03.59pm - 03.02.2012 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Gill; no-one will be "hit" by this. It targets cheap booze making it less likely people WILL BECOME problem drinkers. Moderate drinkers will barely notice it (pub drinkers not at all) and if it does make them take another look at their own drinking habits ... that's a good thing too.
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