The Scottish Government is to bring forward its bill on the minimum pricing of alcohol within the next month.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon hailed a leading Canadian academic and a major player in the alcohol industry who have added their names to the list of supporters backing the plan.
Professor Tim Stockwell, director of the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, claims there is clear evidence that minimum pricing in Canada has significantly reduced alcohol consumption.
Rooney Anand, chief executive of brewers Greene King, says minimum pricing will address and help to reduce the negative impact of alcohol misuse.
Confirming the plans on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said everyone is well aware that Scotland has an alcohol problem.
”Scots are drinking more than any other part of the UK, estimated to cost £3.56 billion each year,” she said. ”That’s £900 for every adult.
”Professor Stockwell’s view that affordability is one of the drivers of increased consumption adds further credibility to the argument that addressing price is a fundamental element of any long-term strategy to tackle alcohol misuse.
”That is why we remain committed to the reintroduction of an Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill, a position also supported by a major brewer in the shape of Greene King.
“The support in favour of minimum pricing is overwhelming, particularly among health professionals who recognise the harm that alcohol is doing to our communities and the benefit minimum pricing will bring, saving lives and reducing crime,” Ms Sturgeon said.
Professor Stockwell said there was overwhelming evidence that cheap alcohol was linked to high levels of hazardous use and related harms.
“The Scottish Parliament should be applauded if they approve the bill to introduce a minimum price on alcoholic drinks,” he said. “This policy has been applied in Canadian jurisdictions for many years.
“Recent research at the Centre for Addictions Research at the University of Victoria has found clear evidence that increases in minimum price significantly reduce consumption. This policy is an essential plank of any comprehensive plan to tackle alcohol-related problems.”
Mr Anand said Greene King had been a brewer and pub operator for over 200 years.
“We are proud of our long-standing reputation,” he said. “We therefore take all issues around alcohol use, and misuse, very seriously. It is my long-held view that a great deal of the UK’s anti-social behaviour and health issues stem from excessive drinking by a small minority of people fuelled by the easy availability and cheap prices of alcohol.
“We have consistently argued that the solution must be proportionate to the problem and should not penalise the majority of responsible drinkers. That is why we believe a minimum price for alcohol would go to the very heart of the problem.”
The support of Professor Stockwell and Greene King adds to a growing list of those in favour of minimum pricing, including all 17 of Scotland’s public health directors in NHS Scotland, the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland Sir Harry Burns, the British Medical Association, the Royal Colleges, ACPOS, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Church of Scotland, various children’s charities, Tennents and Molson Coors.
Alcohol sales are now 23% higher in Scotland than in England and Wales.