Scottish ministers have announced plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in a bid to stop drink being sold for "pocket money prices". Cut price offers encouraging bulk buying are also to be banned along with money saving promotions like '3 for 2' deals. The display and marketing of drink is to be restricted to specific areas within off-sales premises. The plans were revealed today when the Scottish Government published its blueprint for tackling the problem of binge drinking in Scotland, especially amongst the young. It was also announced that price controls on drink may come into effect by the end of the year.
However, plans to raise the minimum age for buying drink in off-sales to 21 have been watered down. Instead, ministers plan to put a legal obligation on licensing boards to "consider" whether drink problems in their area warrant raising the age to 21. Local chief constables will also be able to request such a move. Also dropped from the original proposals is a plan to introduce alcohol-only checkouts in supermarkets and shops. The government said this had been opposed particularly from small retailers who lacked the floor space and staff. "We have listened to these concerns and decided for the time being not to introduce alcohol only checkouts", said the government blueprint. This is definitely a modern day miracle – a Government listening to concerns from interested parties. Actually, I doubt if they DID listen – it’s more likely that a member of the ruling SNP with some commonsense pointed out the fact that those proposals simply wouldn’t work.
The Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, said, "Plummeting prices and aggressive promotion have led to a surge in consumption, causing and adding to health problems ranging from liver and heart diseases to diabetes, obesity, dementia and cancers. We have listened to those who responded to the consultation and modified our proposals where appropriate. But we remain determined to press ahead with tough policies to tackle alcohol misuse.”
The new measures were outlined only days after figures revealed the number of cases where people are treated in hospital for alcohol-related conditions had reached a record high. NHS statistics published last week showed there were 42,430 drink-related discharges from general hospitals in 2007 and 2008. Last month it emerged Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill stressed the importance of tackling pricing. He said: "Cheap, readily available alcohol is fuelling violent crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as taking its toll on our economy and health service. That's why we are taking action to ban irresponsible promotions and make sure alcohol is sold at a sensible price that reflects the strength of the product.”
However, The Portman Group, the social responsibility body for UK drinks producers, criticised the Scottish Government's plans to tackle alcohol misuse. David Poley, the group's chief executive, said: "The Scottish Government is not listening to reason. These plans will punish all drinkers while only scratching at the surface of our drinking culture. People who drink to get drunk would not be influenced by these measures.”
I tend to agree with Mr Poley. Those who are desperate for a drink will no doubt go down the same road as those on other drugs who cannot do without their fix. They will resort to theft, burglary, in fact any means, in order to satisfy their needs. This can only result in more crime and anti-social behaviour, not less, as Kenny MacAskill would lead us to believe.
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