CHURCH OF SCOTLAND BACKS MINIMUM PRICING

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND BACKS MINIMUM PRICING

'WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE' - MODERATOR

SNP MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed the support of the Church of
Scotland for the Scottish Government's minimum pricing proposals.

Writing the Scotsman newspaper today (Saturday), Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Bill Hewitt, said:

"The costs of alcohol abuse is not just financial but gnaws at the very
souls of families who have to cope with its effects. It doesn't just
affect the drinker, it affects everyone. So we need to change our
collective attitude to alcohol. That is why the Church of Scotland is
supporting minimum pricing by asking our membership to write to drinks
producers to say that they should work with the government on this issue."

Commenting, Mr Matheson said:

“This is indeed very welcome news. The Kirk joins a host of organisations
and producers who recongise the need to change Scotland’s relationship
with alcohol through sensible and proven means.

“The 3,000 deaths and 42,000 hospital stays linked to alcohol annually are
a massive burden on our public services and create misery for families
across the country. Action must be taken to end this scourge.

“Minimum pricing is a workable approach to tackling the problem and has
drawn support from all quarters. Now, the opposition parties in the
Scottish Parliament must stop playing politics with the nation’s health
and back these proposals.”