SNP says few back Labour plans for drink price

Published on Thursday 9 September 2010 15:38

The First Minister has defended minimum pricing proposals for alcohol, as it was revealed that Labour's alternative plans have won little support.

Alex Salmond said the 45p-per-unit minimum price was "appropriate", when tackled on the issue during First Minister's Questions. The measures would raise the price of the cheapest alcohol on supermarket shelves if the legislation is passed by the Parliament.

Nationalist MSP Joe FitzPatrick claimed the alternative options set out by Labour's Alcohol Commission were poorly received.

Mr FitzPatrick said 45 of the 80 respondents to the commission were in favour of minimum pricing. Another 23 did not express a preference and 12 - mostly drinks manufacturers - were against the proposal.

Mr FitzPatrick also said only one respondent - a drinks company - backed Labour's proposals that a price limit on the sale of alcohol should be brought in across the UK.

Labour also urged Scottish ministers to lobby the Westminster government to bring in a ban on selling alcohol at below "floor price" of the cost of production, plus the cost of duty and VAT.

Mr Salmond said he was "not surprised" that a majority of organisations supported the SNP's pricing proposals.

He said: "I think there is a mood swing in Scotland and a recognition that minimum pricing would be effective.

"More and more people in Scotland recognise that we've got to rebalance this country's relationship with alcohol, and more and more people are prepared to support courageous decisions to do so."