SNP vows to revive minimum pricing
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has vowed to revive its failed campaign to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.
Scottish MPs voted against the proposals for a 45p minimum price in November last year after Labour, the Lib Dems and Conservatives voted against it.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon pledged to re-introduce the push for minimum pricing if the SNP is re-elected in May.
She slammed Labour voting against the proposals as "disgraceful conduct".
"We put the national interest before party politics," Sturgeon said. "We won the backing of doctors, nurses, the police, children's charities, churches, licensees - all of those...who see the damage cheap booze is doing to our country.
"But Labour — even though they knew it was the right thing to do — voted it down. The party of the smoking ban ducked the alcohol challenge. Labour put party politics before the public health of our country and they should be ashamed of themselves.
"But minimum pricing is the right thing to do. Other countries are now taking the action that the opposition here in Scotland blocked. Just this week, the Northern Ireland government announced plans to introduce minimum pricing there. We cannot afford to let Scotland lag behind."
