LIB DEM HEALTH SPOKESMAN BACKS MINIMUM PRICING

LIB DEM HEALTH SPOKESMAN BACKS MINIMUM PRICING

SCOTTISH STANCE 'NEITHER CREDIBLE NOR CONSISTENT'

SNP MSP Michael Matheson has written to Tavish Scott and Nick Clegg
seeking an explanation as to why Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson in
the UK Parliament, Norman Lamb MP, is calling for minimum pricing to be
introduced in England and Wales while his colleagues in the Scottish
Parliament are opposing SNP pricing proposals.

Commenting on the release of NHS Confederation & Royal College of
Physicians report on alcohol, Too Much Of The Hard Stuff: what alcohol
costs the NHS, Norman Lamb said: “Ministers have shown a complete lack of
leadership on this issue. They should take the advice of their own Chief
Medical Officer and introduce a minimum price for alcohol.”

Commenting, Mr Matheson, who is a member of the Health Committee, said:

"The Liberal Democrat stance is neither credible nor consistent. To
support minimum pricing where it's not happening yet oppose it where it
could happen simply does not make sense.

“The issue is – or should be – above party politics, just as the smoking
ban was.

“The 3,000 deaths, 42,000 hospital stays, and 110,000 GP visits linked to
alcohol annually are causing misery for families and communities,
burdening our public services and sapping Scotland's economic potential.

"As a Parliament,our priority must be improving the public health of
Scotland – and minimum pricing is a practical and evidence-led approach
which tackles the problem of alcohol misuse by targeting cheap, high
strength beers and ciders.

"The Lib Dem Health Spokesman joins a long list of those who back the
SNP's minimum pricing proposals which includes all four chief medical
officers, the Royal College of Physicians, senior police and the licensed
trade.

"As MSPs come back from their Christmas break, it's time to put Scotland's
health before supermarket profits."