Leader: Searching questions on minimum pricing

How solid is the case for legislating a minimum price for alcohol? Will it live up to the claims made? The seriousness of Scotland's drink abuse problem is not in doubt, nor is the need for action in question. But serious doubts attend the effectiveness of minimum pricing in achieving what its advocates hope for it.

These doubts are ably set out in the latest analysis from the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Its key finding is that the University of Sheffield report "continues to exaggerate the alleged impact minimum pricing on heavy and hazardous drinkers". It estimates that with a minimum price of 40p per unit, these drinkers would reduce their consumption by less than a pint of beer a week.

On this evidence the purported benefits are over-stated while the negative impacts - penalising moderate drinkers and the impact on cross-border trade - would be increased.

This is a serious challenge to the core of the case for minimum pricing and one which its advocates cannot ignore. Legislators need to be confident that any measure they are asked to pass has a reasonable prospect of success, otherwise the exercise is futile.

In the meantime, we continue to emphasise the need for a multi-faceted approach, including education and far tougher enforcement of the licensing laws and restrictions that already exist.