Letter: Sobering thought

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie is accused of scoring an own goal when he said of Scottish independence that it had “something of an inevitability about it” (your report, 18 May), which is, while defeatist – and unnecessarily so – a personal view.

However, if Lord Carmyllie can be accused of an own goal, so can the SNP. Its plan to raise the price of a unit of alcohol to 50p is a leap of faith into the dark. As the old saying goes, “look before you leap”. Of course, many Scots are less than happy about this measure. It will have little, if any, effect where it is intended to.

Drinkers will drink, as smokers smoke, whatever the price. However, it will alienate many of the people SNP hopes will vote for separation in 2014. After all, who would vote for a split-up of the UK if they were sober?

Andrew HN Gray

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh