17 May 2012
Scottish Methodist Church welcomes alcohol pricing move
This week, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Health Secretary, made
the announcement that she plans to start to tackle the alcoholism
and binge drinking endemic in parts Scotland by introducing a
minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol. This is even higher and
more wide-ranging than the 45p previously indicated.
Unveiling this radical health policy proposed by the Scottish
National party government in Scotland, she said: "Cheap alcohol
comes at a price and now is the time to tackle the toll that
Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol is taking on our
society. Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death."
The Methodist Church in Scotland, along with many organizations
including churches, the health service and police, have for long
advocated minimum pricing as one element in their various campaigns
to tackle many people's unhealthy relationship with alcohol. The
Methodist Church has welcomed the lead the Scottish Government is
taking in tackling over consumption of alcohol.
"Not only does minimum pricing make alcohol -especially the
damaging low-priced own brand spirits and strong ciders - less
affordable it send a clear message that the Scottish Government
takes the issue seriously," said Dr William Reid, Connexional
Liaison Officer for the Methodist Church in Scotland. "It also
builds on their earlier measures to tackle the promotion of
over-consumption of low priced alcohol."
This is the first time that minimum pricing has been tried in the
European Union, and the policy is expected to be passed
overwhelmingly by the Scottish parliament as the Tories and Liberal
Democrats are now behind the proposal after changing their position
earlier this year. However, the Labour Party are less supportive
questioning the effectiveness of minimum pricing and arguing that,
if used, it should be raised through duty across the UK.
Labour MSP Dr Richard Simpson has put forward a consultation on a
bill on a wider range of proposals to tackle issues around alcohol,
including measures to educate and promote public health and reduce
alcohol-related offending through further changes to licensing
laws. For example, restrictions on the retailing and advertising of
alcoholic drinks, obligations on Scottish Ministers to issue
guidance and report, and also directing offenders towards treatment
or restricting their access to alcohol.
"Hopefully all parties will come to see these measures are
complementary and not in competition with each other and all
parties will get behind them all," added Dr Reid.
"While the Scottish Parliament is likely to continue to take a lead
on these issues many in the Methodist Church pray that similar
measures will also soon be adopted across the UK."