Labour reveals masterplan to beat alcohol culture

A UK-wide "floor price" should be imposed on the sale of alcohol to tackle Scotland's excessive drinking culture, a new report has recommended.

• Report author Graeme Pearson

An alcohol commission set-up by Scottish Labour backed a British ban on drink sales below the total cost of production, duty and VAT, as part of a raft of measures to deal with alcohol abuse.

A levy on businesses selling alcoholic drinks should also be looked at to help pay for alcohol-related services, according to the commission, chaired by Professor Sally Brown.

The package of measures suggested also includes ending alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, as part of a move towards an outright ban on advertising all alcoholic drinks.

Other proposals included a limit on the number of licences in each area and public bodies such as the Scottish Parliament and local councils should not serve alcohol at official functions. Labour announced the commission's findings as an alternative to the SNP government's proposals to set a basic price per unit for alcohol.

The minimum-pricing plans have already been voted down by MSPs amid concerns that the move would penalise responsible drinkers.

Under Labour's proposal from the commission a floor price would be imposed across the UK, with a call for duty rises to be the "main lever" for achieving price increases.

Prof Brown claimed that the measure would ensure that any additional revenue raised went to the public purse rather than being passed on to the breweries and alcohol companies.

• Four in ten Scots drink too much on a heavy night out

She said: "The commission was repeatedly told that it will be difficult to change Scotland's culture in relation to alcohol, but it can be done. We need leadership that both recognises the problem and is prepared to take comprehensive steps.

"It is essential that Scotland is very serious about resolving its alarming problems of alcohol misuse.

"We need a broad-based, coherent and effective strategy that recognises the complexities of the difficulties we face - there is no silver bullet that will provide a quick fix.

"Some of our recommendations may be challenging, but they are also necessary if we really want to deal with this problem and not just talk about it."

Prof Brown, who conceded the commission had not costed its recommendations, said: "New strategies are never cost-free, but the cost of doing nothing would be much greater."

Scotland's health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, welcomed some of the commission's suggestions, but criticised Labour for backing a UK-wide solution.

She said: "Labour's alcohol commission makes some constructive suggestions for debate, but it ducks the central issue of tackling the cost of alcohol sold at pocket-money prices in Scotland. In this vital area, it recommends passing the buck to Westminster.

"Why leave it to a UK coalition government - which at best has shown a lukewarm response to tackling the issue of cost - when we could take better, more effective steps ourselves?"

Doctors' leaders also expressed disappointment that Labour's commission did not back minimum pricing in Scotland.

Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "While there are some useful contributions to the alcohol debate contained within this report, it fails to recognise the most important element of any alcohol strategy by rejecting minimum pricing.

The British Beer and Pub Association said taxing alcohol according to its strength would create thousands of jobs and bring in around 250 million in extra revenues from employment taxes and corporation tax.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "We've had many years of duty changes that have favoured other categories of drink - yet taxing beer fairly would create thousands of new jobs, and substantial extra tax revenues."

The proposal to ban alcohol advertising at sports events came under fire from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

Spokesman Gavin Partington said: "It is misguided to propose a ban on alcohol advertising or sponsorship of sporting events.

"Such a move would threaten jobs and livelihoods across the media industry, while doing nothing to tackle problem drinking."

North-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone warned that a ban on sports advertising would ruin long standing relationships such as Famous Grouse whisky's support for Scottish rugby.

He said: "Labour in Scotland is returning to type, where it wishes to lay down the law in every aspect of people's lives.

"If there's a ban on alcohol advertising, do we then look at a ban on fast-food adverts at sport.

"Labour's proposal here would be damaging for relationships like that of the Scottish Rugby Union's with Famous Grouse."

AT A GLANCE

3.56bn

Alcohol misuse costs Scottish taxpayers around per year, according to research puiblished at the start of 2010.

900

The cost of alcohol abuse per year for every Scottish adult.

268.8m

Healthcare related costs, which is 7.5 per cent of the total.

230.5m

Estimated social care costs or 6.5 per cent of the total.

727.1m

Crime costs or 20.4 per cent of the total.

865.7m

The cost to the productivity of the Scottish economy or 24.3 per cent of the total.

1.46bn

The human cost in terms of suffering caused by premature deaths or 41.2 per cent of the total.

100,000

The number of children affected by alcohol abuse within their families.