NEW YEAR APPEAL FOR PARTIES TO BACK MINIMUM PRICING

NEW YEAR APPEAL FOR PARTIES TO BACK MINIMUM PRICING

Welcoming calls by doctors leaders today urging politicians of all
parties to back Scottish Government plans for minimum pricing for
alcohol, SNP MSP and member of the Scottish Parliament Health
Committee Michael Matheson said politicians whose continued to oppose
minimum pricing looked increasingly irresponsible.

The British Medical Association Scotland unveiled a series of New Year
resolutions for the country's politicians – with a plea for all
parties to get behind the Alcohol Bill top of the list. Dr Brian
Keighley, chairman of the BMA's Scottish Council, said minimum pricing
could have "a significant and positive impact on health" as part of a
co-ordinated strategy to tackle Scotland's drink problem. He said:
"Scotland's alcohol consumption rates are staggering. More than a
million people in Scotland are drinking hazardously or harmfully.

Welcoming the BMAS intervention, Mr Matheson, said:

“The evidence and expert opinion now supporting minimum pricing is
overwhelming and those politicians who continue to oppose the policy
look increasingly irresponsible.

“As the BMAS recognise, 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.

“The coalition in support of minimum pricing is broad and growing –
the police, health professionals, the licensed trade, the British
Liver Trust, and the four Chief Medical Officers across the UK. All
political parties must get behind that consensus and back a policy
that can save lives, cut crime and improve quality of life.

“These calls by the BMAS underline why the Scottish Government is
right to tackle the scourge of alcohol misuse.’’