MSP TAKES BOOZE BATTLE TO CHANNEL 4’s POLITICAL SLOT

MSP TAKES BOOZE BATTLE TO CHANNEL 4’s POLITICAL SLOT

SNP MSP Michael Matheson – a member of the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee – will tonight be taking his message for the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol on to the small screen as he presents the case on Channel 4’s Political Slot at 7.55pm.

Mr Matheson will be meeting with Brian Keighley, a local GP and Chairman of BMA Scotland to discuss the problems and why minimum pricing will help Scotland’s health.

In addition he will interview Brian Flynn, owner of the Behind The Wall nightclub in Mr Matheson’s Falkirk constituency the discuss how the problem of cheap alcohol affects their business adversely.

Commenting before the screening of the slot Mr Matheson said:

“The scale of Scotland's alcohol misuse problem is shocking: 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.

“It’s about time those issues were addressed which is why the Scottish Government is acting to address this problem.

“The time for warm words about Scotland's drink problem is at an end and we need firm, bold action that will produce real results.

“Scotland led the way in the UK with the ban on smoking in public places - a policy which has been remarkably successful and on which the doom-mongers were proven wrong.

“Supermarkets should not be allowed to recklessly sell alcohol as a loss leader to attract customers. Alcohol is a drug, and should be treated as such.

“The advantage that a minimum pricing policy based on strength is that it specifically targets the low-cost, high strength alcoholic products consumed by problem and dangerous drinkers. Responsible drinkers are almost completely left alone.

“It’s time for a serious policy to address the problems of alcohol and this is the policy that can achieve it.”