Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has today (Wednesday) highlighted the need for tough action to be taken on the issue of alcohol misuse in Scotland.
Mr McMillan’s comments come after it was announced that alcohol-related harm could cost more than £1,000 per person in Scotland's largest council, new figures have revealed. Inverclyde is £444 per person (total estimated cost of alcohol-related harm £35.4 million).
For the first time ever Alcohol Focus Scotland has produced a regional breakdown, revealing in which parts of Scotland the problem costs the most.
Mr McMillan said:
“These figures released continue to demonstrate Scotland’s problem with alcohol and the requirement for drastic action to be taken. In Inverclyde alcohol-related harm cost £444 per person in 2010-11 and this compares to East Renfrewshire which had a figure of £214 per person.
“I note the new Health Secretary, Alex Neil MSP, stated alcohol sales are still unacceptably high, with enough alcohol being sold for every adult to exceed weekly recommended limits for men (21 units) each and every week since at least 2000.
“That is why this SNP Government introduced and has recently passed the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill as a measure to tackle the cheap consumption of alcohol throughout Scotland. Minimum pricing is one of a number of methods being brought forward by the SNP Government to take touch action on alcohol misuse.
“Unfortunately, this measure was not supported by the opposition Labour Party here in Scotland.”
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