Booze culture - 'Party politics means nothing

NO-ONE can doubt the enormous damage alcohol causes in Scotland every day. But, despite the evidence, little progress has been made towards a solution.

Two particular problems stand in the way. The first, and most fundamental, is that booze plays such a big part in our culture that only a huge collective effort could change things. And, secondly, there is little hope of developing such universal will when there is so much conflict about how to tackle the problem.

Put simply, alcohol is an area of hot political debate - and we all know that when party politics gets involved nothing ever gets done.

This is why the SNP has failed to make progress with plans for minimum pricing. Doubtless it will also lead it to rubbish Labour's alternative plan unveiled today.

The News has been cautious about the Scottish Government's plan because it punishes the majority of sensible drinkers in a bid to change the habits of a troublesome minority.

Labour's alternative is a "floor price" of production costs plus taxes, designed to prevent booze being sold as a loss leader, which encourages binge drinking.

This too will have an impact on law-abiding moderate drinkers who have an eye for the occasional bargain. There will be no more "malt of the month" in the supermarket or cut-price Chianti in the local shop.

But anyone brave enough to go into the city centre on a Saturday night will surely agree this is an acceptable price if we can get to grips with our booze problem.

Just yesterday an Edinburgh hairdresser and a hotelier were given community service for separate drink-related assaults.

Labour's plan is in many ways similar to the SNP's, but without the direct link between cost and alcohol content. It is therefore more likely to win support in the short-term and lead to much-needed action - though tougher steps may still be necessary.

In the meantime, we have no qualms in accepting another part of Labour's plan.

We live in a strange world in which many of us reach for the drinks cabinet to celebrate anything from a football team winning to a child's birthday celebration.

It is right that politicians lead the way in changing this culture by not boozing at their own functions.