EMBARRASSMENT FOR LABOUR AS ALCOHOL COMMISSION CHAIR DOESN’T RULE OUT MINIMUM PRICING

EMBARRASSMENT FOR LABOUR AS ALCOHOL COMMISSION CHAIR DOESN’T RULE OUT MINIMUM PRICING

“ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” SAYS PROFESSOR SALLY BROWN

CAFFEINE CONTENT IN ALCOHOL SUBJECT TO EU ASSESSMENT

Commenting after today’s Politics Show where the chair of Labour’s Commission on alcohol said that a recommendation to support minimum pricing was possible, SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson, said that Professor Sally Brown’s comment s totally undermined Labour’s opposition to minimum pricing.

Mr Gibson also published evidence from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre which highlights blow Labour’s plans to control caffeine in alcohol are subject to EU assessment – and therefore only UK government ministers could lead representations on the matter, which effectively reserves action to Westminster.

Commenting Mr Gibson said:

“Professor Sally Brown has just blown apart Labour’s opposition to minimum pricing and embarrassed them. But considering the support of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for minimum pricing – of which she is a member – I am not surprised.

“She was quite right to point out that minimum pricing should not be ruled out but Labour organised this Commission so that it won’t report in time for any action to be taken prior to the May 2011 election. Just how serious are they about tackling the health and social problems alcohol throws up?

“Their current proposal on caffeine is also subject to an EU assessment leaving representations in the hands of UK minister – effectively reserving action to Westminster ministers – and thus slowing down measures against alcohol misuse even further.

“It’s about time Labour stopped playing games with the health and social fabric of Scottish communities on this issue and started facing up to the need to allow Scotland to have ALL the tools to tackle alcohol misuse – including minimum pricing.”