Dundee licensing board wants profits levy to ensure NHS benefits from minimum alcohol pricing
Dundee City Council's licensing board is to recommend to the Scottish Government that any additional profits from the implementation of minimum pricing of alcohol should benefit the NHS.
- By Alan Wilson
- Published in the Courier : 09.12.11
- Published online : 09.12.11 @ 10.12am
At a meeting of the board on Thursday, members agreed to suggest a levy on profits to be channelled towards the health of the public as part of their response to the Government's consultation.
The report which went in front of the board welcomes the alcohol bill, stating the proposals for minimum pricing are needed to deal with issues which have been a continuing problem for a number of years, caused by the cut-price sale of alcohol in both on and off-licence premises.
The board was anxious to avoid unfairly punishing the moderate drinker and suggests an increase in taxes on alcohol suppliers to offset any increase in profits.
At the meeting the members took it a stage further by following a suggestion by Councillor Kevin Keenan that the NHS benefits from any additional profits made by the retailers.
He said: ''I would ask that we put in there that any additional revenue goes to the health service to combat the issues relating to the health of the nation. If there is to be an increase then there has to be a benefit for the community.
''Any profits should not go straight to Tesco or Asda but to the NHS so that we can make a real difference to the people of Scotland.''
Councillor Brian Gordon stated that while the relationship between alcohol and people's health has been a ''burning issue'' for some time in Scotland, he felt the implementation of minimum pricing should not be allowed to adversely affect the economy.
''It's got to be very carefully thought through,'' he said. ''We have to make sure that shops don't just squander the profits, and that the booze cruise with people driving down to England to buy cheaper alcohol doesn't happen.
''We have to make sure that the people of Scotland are on board, we've got to get checks and policies in place and we're not going to damage the economy of Scotland.''
Convener Rod Wallace added: ''I agree totally but also the health of the population is at risk and the health professionals are screaming out that something has to be done. This should be part of the jigsaw.''
The board recommends a minimum price of between 40-45p a unit to the Scottish Government. The higher price, which is also the rate preferred by the SNP Government, would mean no one could charge less than 90p for a 500ml can of normal strength (4%) lager.
Dundee Licensed Trade Association chairman Colin Rattray welcomed the board's comments.
He said: ''Whilst I'm sure that some individuals would rather see a higher minimum price adopted we all must be aware of the detrimental effect of punishing members of the public who consume alcohol sensibly and moderately.
''With a unit price of 45p I believe that we are taking the first small steps to removing the binge drinking culture from our society without pricing alcohol out of the reach of the majority of sensible Scots consumers.
''In real terms this means that a 500ml can of beer or lager can be sold in a supermarket for 90p, a bottle of wine can be purchased for under £4.50 and a 70cl bottle of whisky, gin or vodka can be purchased for under £13.00."
On the suggestion of part of the profits being directed to the NHS, he said: ''If the Scottish Executive and the retailers can come to an agreement on the extra revenue generated being taxed and distributed directly to the NHS in Scotland I will frankly be amazed but also extremely delighted."
11.46am - 10.12.2011 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The supermarkets will only make a "profit" out of minimum pricing IF there is a significant rise in the price of individual products AND that has no effect on people's consumption. The desired fall in consumption will see little or no extra money for supermarkets.
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