TAYSIDE POLICE BOOZE SEIZURES UNDERLINE NEED FOR TOUGH ACTION ON ALCOHOL MISUSE

TAYSIDE POLICE BOOZE SEIZURES UNDERLINE NEED FOR TOUGH ACTION ON ALCOHOL MISUSE

Commenting on the article in today’s Courier highlighting how Tayside Police seized more than 4000 litres of alcohol from under-18s in Tayside last year, Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said the figures underlined why the Scottish Government’s tough action on alcohol should be supported.

According to the figures released under Freedom of Information the following amounts were seized during 2008/9:

* In the eastern (Angus) division 319 litres of beer, 311 litres of cider, 125 litres of spirits and 183 litres of wine, alcopops and other drinks were confiscated.

* In central (Dundee) division 1846 litres of cider, 1190 bottles or cans of beer, 203 bottles of alcopops, 196 bottles of vodka and other spirits, and 66 bottles of wine were seized; and

* In western (Perth and Perthshire) division 712 litres of alcohol, 636 cans and 717 bottles were taken off under-age youngsters.

Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

“Tayside Police have done a great job in confiscating this amount of alcohol from young people in the area.

"These alarming figures demonstrate exactly why the Scottish Government are bringing forward tough new measures to tackle Scotland’s problems of alcohol misuse. Particularly that relationship between cheap alcohol and young people.

“The constant prevalence of cheap alcohol amongst these figures underlines the problem. It is particularly clear is that it is the drinks that minimum pricing will have most effect on - ciders, beer and vodka - that are being consumed by underage drinkers - undoubtedly because they are the cheapest

"Alcohol abuse is costing Scottish public services £2.25 billion, and much more in terms of human misery.

"It is vital that Parliament backs these proposals, which include minimum pricing, a ban on quantity discount promotions, a duty on licensing boards to consider raising the off-sales purchase age to 21, and a social responsibility fee for some retailers.

“Taken together these proposals can protect and discourage children and young people from the scourge of alcohol misuse and change Scotland’s relationship with alcohol for the better.

“The SNP Government has more than trebled investment in tackling alcohol misuse over the next three years because we recognise the scale of the damage caused by alcohol misuse to individuals, families and communities."

In a related story in today’s Scottish Sun which graphically highlighted the mayhem on the streets from binge drinking, Mr FitzPatrick added:

“The Sun are to be congratulated on highlighting the scale of the problem in such a graphic fashion. It shows why we need new and tougher legislation to tackle the problem of anti-social drinking.”