LABOUR GOVT’S HEALTH ADVISORY BODY BACKS ALCOHOL MINIMUM PRICING

LABOUR GOVT’S HEALTH ADVISORY BODY BACKS ALCOHOL MINIMUM PRICING

UK LIB DEMS ATTACK OPPONENTS OF MINIMUM PRICING AS “POPULIST” – WHICH MEANS LIB DEMS IN SCOTLAND!

Falkirk West SNP MSP Michael Matheson – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee - has welcomed reports that the UK Labour government's expert advisory body on medical treatment, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, has recommended minimum pricing as a means of combating "hazardous and harmful drinking".

Mr Matheson also said that the response of the UK Lib Dem’s health spokesperson, Norman Lamb, who called on the UK Government to “implement minimum pricing”, and termed opponents of minimum pricing as “populist”, was an acute embarrassment to the party in Scotland which is currently opposed to the measure.

Commenting Mr Matheson said:

“The evidence now supporting the Scottish Government’s proposals is overwhelming, with this report confirming that minimum pricing would save lives, cut crime and improve quality of life – just as the Scottish Government’s own research demonstrates.

“This is a very welcome development, and I hope that it will help shape the Scottish Labour party’s approach as they engage positively with government on the policy.

“It should also act as a reality check to those parties who are playing politics with the issue, and encourage them to adopt a more sober approach.

“As the evidence stacks up, those politicians who oppose minimum pricing are looking increasingly irresponsible. In particular, the Liberal Democrats in Scotland look completely silly and hypocritical as their own UK health spokesperson, Norman Lamb, has called on the Westminster Government to ‘implement minimum pricing’, and described opponents of the policy as ‘populist’.

“And it reflects the confused position the Tories – their home affairs spokesperson at Westminster has acknowledged that the price of cheap alcohol needs to be raised.

“Scotland's alcohol misuse problem must be tackled. The statistics show how shocking the problem is: 42,500 alcohol-related hospital discharges; 1,500 deaths per year; soaring rates of liver cirrhosis; the eighth highest consumption in the world, and a 2.25 billion annual cost in public services and lost productivity.

“This report underlines why the Scottish Government is right to tackle the scourge of alcohol misuse."