Scots committed to minimum pricing
The politician leading the charge for minimum pricing in Scotland has given his commitment to push ahead with the policy.
Scottish Government Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said they "will not be dictated to by armchair lawyers or those on the payroll of the alcohol industry".
He was speaking at the bi-annual meeting of an umbrella group representing licensees across the UK and Ireland, which called for political leaders to implement minimum pricing.
The United Kingdom and Ireland Licensed Trade Association (UKILTA) represents the English Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, the North Wales Licensed Vintners Association, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Federation of Retail Licensed Trade of Northern Ireland and the Vinters Federation of Ireland.
In a statement, the group called on Governments in Westminster, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin to "immediately work on introducing legislation setting a minimum price for alcohol sales".
It called for "the Governments and Assemblies to work in a co-ordinated fashion to tackle head-on irresponsible pricing of alcohol, particularly in the off-trade."
The group "applauded" the Scottish Government's push for minimum pricing.
MacAskill told the group that the Scottish Government is not "anti-alchohol" but rather "anti-alcohol mis-use".
He said alcohol abuse cost the Scottish economy £2.25bn per year. "That's why new innovative approaches are needed. We cannot bury our heads in the sand."
He spoke of the "challenge" presented to pubs by cheap supermarket deals. "Supermarket pricing and promotions mean that people are willing to give up the real benefits of the pub and club experience so they can buy more alcohol at 40p a pint or vodka at £8 a bottle."
The minister praised pubs, saying "the on-trade in modern Scotland has changed beyond all recognition and has been at the forefront of driving up standards."
The Scottish National Party is to introduce a bill in the next Parliament including minimum pricing.
MacAskill added: "We will not be dictated to by armchair lawyers or those on the payroll of the alcohol industry. We are clear that minimum pricing is a proportionate response to the scale of the problem and we will take a can-do approach to implementing the policy.
"We will not take the view of some parts of the alcohol industry that it's all too difficult and we should continue with more and more education instead. That is not the answer."
