Health Body Backing for Minimum Pricing Welcomed by McMillan

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has welcomed the backing for minimum pricing given by the UK Government’s health advisers the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The advisory body also recommend Scotland’s efforts to tackle the problems alcohol causes in our society should be an example for England to follow.

As well as endorsing minimum pricing, as proposed by the SNP Government, the report backs consideration of public health issues when granting alcohol licenses, part of the current Scottish licensing system, and the system of brief interventions to address alcohol problems faced by individuals.

Mr. McMillan said;

"This is an extremely significant announcement from NICE. After two years of study they have come to what is increasingly the only workable and logical pricing solution to society’s problems with alcohol.

"The SNP stands by the idea that price and availability are a crucial part of the picture when it comes to cutting consumption and the cost to the health service and our economy.

"Bans on selling below the price of cost and duty will not have the same impact on health and harmful drinking in Inverclyde. The supermarkets themselves admit they would not want to reveal what cost price is.

"It is now abundantly obvious that only minimum pricing will deliver the desired effects on consumption and on public health.

"Scotland took a bold step to introduce the smoking ban after evidence from the same health professionals who are now supporting minimum pricing. It is time to listen to the evidence and to the increasing support across the health and justice systems and alcohol industry and take the same bold action to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

"I urge the parties in the Scottish Parliament who have stated opposition to minimum pricing plans to re-think their objections. We need a clear and workable solution to the devastating impact alcohol consumption is having on Scotland and minimum pricing is consistently coming out on top as a step in the right direction".