Alcohol addiction specialist hails 45p pricing move
A Tayside alcohol addiction specialist last night gave "a hearty welcome" to the proposal to set the minimum price for alcohol at 45p per unit.
- By Marjory Inglis, health reporter
- Published in the Courier : 03.09.10
- Published online : 03.09.10 @ 07.31am
Dr Peter Rice, a consultant psychiatrist who heads Tayside Alcohol Problems Service, has campaigned for minimum pricing for more than three years and was part of a group of top doctors who first recommended the measure aimed at tackling Scotland's appalling record of alcohol abuse.
Dr Rice, who is also chairman of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, warned it would be "a real pity" if the minimum price proposal was not taken forward due to "party political squabbling."
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced on Thursday that the proposed minimum price for alcohol would be set at 45p per unit.
However, the proposal has to be approved by the Scottish Parliament before it can pass into law and there has been far from universal acceptance of minimum pricing among politicians at Holyrood.
Scottish Conservatives and Labour opposed minimum pricing in a debate in the parliament earlier this year.
"I was one of a group of doctors who initially called for minimum pricing about three and a half years ago," said Dr Rice.
"We looked at a bunch of options to tackle alcohol harm and identified price was really important and minimum pricing was the best mechanism.
"We are pleased the (SNP) government has accepted that and followed it through."
The minimum price recommendation first came from Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, a group of doctors from the royal colleges, including Dr Rice and Ninewells Hospital-based accident and emergency specialist Dr Bill Morrison, who regularly has to deal with the consequences of people's over-indulgence in alcohol.
Saving lives, saving money and saving future generations from the harm and misery caused by alcohol misuse were just some of the benefits Ms Sturgeon said that alcohol minimum pricing could bring when she announced the proposed unit price on Thursday.
Fewer deaths
She said that in the first year of minimum pricing there would be 50 fewer deaths from alcohol-related harm, 1200 fewer hospital admissions, a £5.5 million reduction in health care costs and 22,900 fewer days absence from work.
After 10 years, the benefits would increase to 225 fewer deaths from alcohol-related harm annually, 4200 fewer hospital admissions annually and an £83 million reduction in health care costs over the 10-year period.
"For too long, too many Scots have been drinking themselves into an early grave," said Ms Sturgeon. "It is no coincidence that as the affordability of alcohol has plummeted in recent decades, alcohol-related deaths, disease, crime and disorder have spiralled.
"I believe it's crucial that we reintroduce realistic alcohol pricing. It cannot be right that a man can exceed his weekly recommended alcohol limit for less than £3.50. That's why we're taking decisive action, including proposals to introduce a minimum price per unit, which would bring these pocket money prices to an end.
"Getting the price right is vital for minimum pricing to work- too low and it will simply be ineffective. After careful consideration, we believe that 45p per unit is the right price.
"Our proposals have already won backing from respected health professionals at home and abroad and I hope, for the sake of our nation's health, they will also win the backing of the Scottish Parliament."
Were a minimum price of 45p to be introduced, it would mean a two-litre bottle of supermarket-brand cider would treble in price from about £1.32 at the moment to almost £3.80, while supermarket-brand vodka would go up from about £8 currently to about £11.80. Whisky from Asda and Tesco would increase from £9.20 and £9.95, to £12.60, according to figures from the Scottish Government.
08.34am - 03.09.2010 Mark Kane - dundee, Scotland Report This
People who abuse alcohol shouldnt get treatment unless they actually prove they are trying to help themselves. Same applies to smokers and junkies. <br />What about giving young people more activities to do, like sports, kids clubs where they can play pool, snooker, etc. Kids drink because they are bored
03.39pm - 09.09.2010 jgogek - La Mesa, CA, USA Report This
Minimum pricing would be the first thing that Scotland and the rest of the UK has done right regarding alcohol control in a long time. The idea that you can give youth positive activities and that will reduce binge drinking has been discredited everywhere except your island. Read http://atodblog.com
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