Stalling on drinks pricing is a disgrace

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

It is unfortunate that Labour has decided not to support proposed legislation to curb alcohol misuse in Scotland (editorial, 26 November).

While there may be some problems with the SNP proposals, the broad thrust of the legislation is supported by the wide body of medical opinion, for example, the BMA, Royal College of Physicians and the Faculty of Public Health. Minimum retail pricing is only one part of a raft of measures, including: a ban on price promotions of alcohol in off-licensed premises; giving licensing boards power to raise the minimum age for off-sales within their areas; and support for the delivery and evaluation of brief interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use.

With this legislation there was a real chance to improve our efforts to combat alcohol problems, with positive effects for the Scottish people. It now seems likely that this opportunity will be missed.

Instead Labour is proposing yet another commission to consider how alcohol problems should be tackled. Meanwhile the already huge impact of medical, social and economic problems related to alcohol continues to grow.

(DR) JOHN WRENCH

Bonaly Terrace

Edinburgh

Scottish Labour's decision to oppose minimum alcohol pricing is a disgrace. Dr Richard Simpson's defence of Labour's stance (Opinion, 26 November) starts off describing the scale of Scotland's alcohol problem, but then announces that rather than try to take effective measures he wants to set up a commission to examine the matter. Any viewer of Yes Minister knows that this is only an excuse for doing nothing.

International evidence is clear – the main drivers on alcohol consumption are affordability and availability. Minimum pricing would be the most effective measure to reduce consumption among harmful drinkers.

DR RICHARD WATSON

RCGP Scotland

Stewarton Drive

Glasgow

One might expect our political representatives to represent our society as a whole, expressing the full spectrum of opinion on any subject. Yet the three opposition parties at Holyrood all reject the planned alcohol 40p unit price. Presumably, some of them will be voting against personal belief and conscience.

Neither side has produced evidence that the move would reduce consumption, for the obvious reason that none exists.

A Sheffield University investigation "estimated" that a 40p rate might save 370 lives over ten years. The big hitter, however, was the BMA, which claimed an almost maximum saving of 3,393 lives per year at a 50p rate, while the Faculty of Public Health claimed a meagre 866 saved at 60p – all worthless speculation presented as fact.

How can there be meaningful debate based on such nebulous "evidence"?

ROBERT DOW

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian