‘We should follow Canada and New Zealand’ where alcohol is banned in supermarkets

Scotland should follow the examples of countries such as Canada and New Zealand by removing alcohol from supermarkets in an effort to reduce drink-related health problems, a leading doctor has advised politicians.

Dr Peter Rice, chairman of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and a consultant addictions psychiatrist at NHS Tayside, said it would be “desirable” to follow Canada and New Zealand where sales can be controlled in special government-run retail stores.

He made the suggestion to MSPs examining the Scottish Government’s plan to set a minimum price for alcohol, which is expected to be passed at Holyrood.

Dr Rice, who supports the policy, said: “The United Kingdom is unusual in that all of our alcohol is sold alongside all of our groceries. The UK has been very out of step with the rest of the world over the last 20 years.

“I was asked in New Zealand, ‘why is vodka sold in supermarkets in the United Kingdom?’ I’d never thought about that question before.”

He said state-operated boards in parts of Canada and the US led to the “democratic control” of the alcohol market.

“I think that would be a very desirable thing for us to have in this country,” he added.

Dr Rice, who said the concept might be unlikely to win support, continued: “We should not lose sight of the fact that other countries do this sort of thing perfectly successfully, whereas we have a very free and deregulated market for alcohol.”

He made the comments to Holyrood’s health and sport committee, which is scrutinising the Scottish Government’s Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill.

A first attempt at legislation fell in the last parliament, but the plans were reintroduced after the SNP gained an overall majority of seats last May.

Dr Rice said support for the policy was “solid” among doctors.