Scotland set to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol

The Scottish government has today published its long-awaited Alcohol Bill, which includes powers for ministers to set a minimum price for alcohol.

The Scottish Labour and Conservative parties have argued against the move, which has the backing of health groups and pub trade representatives.

Patrick Browne, chief executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA), gave the Bill only a mixed welcome.

Browne was pleased the proposed legislation "rebalanced the current unlevel playing field between the on and off trades and banned drinks promotions across the board, rather than just in pubs".

But he warned that in many other respects the Bill "simply represents a rerun of many of the ideas and arguments that were ruled out of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, like so called Social Responsibility Levies which the Scottish Parliament has already rejected and banning under twenty one year olds from making off sales purchases of alcohol which Parliament rejected less than a year ago.

"Most licensees in Scotland will be feeling dizzy as they face yet even more changes impacting on their businesses, many of which are ill though out and will make no difference in changing Scotland's drinking culture."

Representatives of Scotland's doctors called on politicians of all parties to back the Bill's measures.

Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said at the heart of the Bill were measures "to stop the irresponsible pricing of alcohol driven by large supermarket chains who sell some of the strongest alcohol products at ridiculously cheap prices, often as a loss leader to attract customers.

"As a public health measure, minimum pricing can have a significant and positive impact on health.

"Opponents to this legislation are concerned about a perceived impact of legislation on their business profits, yet they have failed to come up with any evidence that trade will be affected significantly."