SNP 'not ready' to set minimum drink price

Published on Saturday 17 April 2010 20:58

HEALTH secretary Nicola Sturgeon has reaffirmed the SNP's commitment to their flagship policy on minimum alcohol pricing.

However, she said yesterday that no decision has yet been taken on what the cost per unit will be.

The SNP is facing calls to set the price following concerns from MSPs over a lack of information in the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill, which aims to tackle the country's unhealthy relationship with drink.

Holyrood's Health Committee, scrutinising the legislation, said this week that the legality of the bill can "only be answered" when the unit cost is set.

Sturgeon said: "Setting the minimum price is something that has to be done properly and carefully and we'll do that in due course. We're not at the stage where we can set the minimum price.

"I've said we will in all likelihood bring forward what we would intend the price to be as the bill progresses through the parliament. We're not yet at the stage of doing that."

Labour called on Sturgeon to name the minimum price.

Party health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie MSP said: "The committee is unable to produce its report because the health secretary has failed to provide basic information about the level at which a minimum price would be set or even whether it is legal. The fact is that minimum pricing is a completely untested policy and there is very little evidence that it would be an effective way of dealing with Scotland's problems with alcohol abuse."