Blow for SNP minimum alcohol price plan
Plans to make Scotland the first country in Europe to bring in a minimum price for alcohol has nose-dived when the idea was rejected by the Scottish Parliament.
- By Steve Bargeton, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 11.06.10
- Published online : 11.06.10 @ 12.40pm
MSPs backed the general principles of the minority SNP Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill by 54 votes to 49 with 13 abstentions but voted for a Tory amendment to ditch the controversial minimum pricing proposals.
The rejection by parliament on Thursday is a body blow to ministers' flagship plan to tackle Scotland's love affair with booze — but despite the setback, the government insisted that it will press ahead with the case for minimum pricing when the bill is scrutinised by committee at stage two.
After the vote Scottish Tory health spokesman Murdo Fraser, who tabled the amendment, said, "This is the end of the road for minimum pricing.
"Today the Scottish Parliament has voted for the first time to reject the policy. Now it's time for the SNP to put its plans on hold and sit down and work with the UK Government and opposition parties on a joint approach which will have widespread political support."
He added, "Scotland has a huge problem with excessive alcohol consumption and we need targeted measures to tackle that abuse.
"But this should not lead us to rush into legislation on the SNP's indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which has no evidence base, would penalise responsible drinkers, harm the Scotch whisky industry, cost jobs and is probably illegal."
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, "I welcome the fact that all of the provisions of the Alcohol Bill have passed stage one and will now proceed to the detailed scrutiny of stage two.
"The amendment that was passed has absolutely no legal effect and it is notable that fewer than half of all MSPs voted for it."
She added, "The Scottish Government will, at stage two, continue to seek to persuade members to support minimum pricing, which is backed by a huge range of experts in Scotland.
"The public health of Scotland is more important than party politics and, as the bill progresses, I hope that all parties will listen to the evidence and put the national interest first."
Cheap alcohol part of culture
Earlier, in the debate, Ms Sturgeon urged opposition parties to "rise above party politics" and back a minimum alcohol price.
She said, "Cheap alcohol has become part of the culture and it will be extremely difficult to change that culture without tackling low prices and irresponsible promotions."
Mr Fraser told MSPs there is no evidence to support the policy and attacked the government for not declaring what minimum price they propose to set.
He said, "Without knowing the price which will be set, it is impossible to say for sure whether or not minimum pricing would be legal."
Labour MSP Dr Richard Simpson said it was "dishonest" to talk of overwhelming evidence backing minimum pricing.
He said, "The last time we were used for the testing of an economic theory was the poll tax."
Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said Scotland's drinking culture needs to change but the Scottish Government has failed to make the case for minimum pricing.
He said the Conservative amendment claiming there is no evidence is, therefore, also not credible.
Mr Finnie said, "We support the public health purpose of the Alcohol Bill and will not block it at stage one.
"But the Scottish Government will need to address the serious and unresolved issues raised by the parliament's health committee before it progresses further."
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