Opposition join forces against minimum alcohol prices

Published on Saturday 26 June 2010 20:07

OPPOSITION leaders have launched a joint attempt to find alternatives to the SNP's flagship minimum unit price plan for alcohol.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was invited to "focus on the common ground" just two weeks after MSPs voted against the policy in principle. The Scottish Government intends to push ahead with the plan, which remains in the Alcohol Bill because the Holyrood vote was non-binding.

Labour, Tories, Liberal Democrats and Greens have signed a letter to Sturgeon calling for a fresh approach.

The parties outlined the "huge challenge" posed by Scotland's harmful relationship with alcohol.

They highlighted record levels of death from liver disease, children being taken to hospital after bingeing and the part alcohol played in 14 murders in Strathclyde over the past 10 weeks.

They added: "It is clear that after the recent vote in the Scottish Parliament there is no majority for minimum unit pricing, but there is a responsibility on all of us to work together to find an alternative that is evidence-based, credible and legally competent.

"As a starting point, we also accept that raising the price of alcohol has a part to play in reducing consumption and therefore harm."

Yesterday, Sturgeon said she had already convened an all-party summit which helped shape policy, but would offer to meet opposition leaders.

She added: "I hope they will also accept the wide consensus amongst health professionals, the police and key parts of the industry that minimum pricing is the most targeted way of addressing price and reducing consumption and harm."