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| Drive to cut Scots alcohol abuse | Drive to cut Scots alcohol abuse |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Measures to tackle alcohol abuse, including minimum pricing and a ban on two-for-one promotions, are set to be outlined by the Scottish Government. | |
| Ministers said radical action was needed to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and related health problems. | Ministers said radical action was needed to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence and related health problems. |
| But it is thought MSPs will not back plans to raise the age for buying drink from off-licences from 18 to 21. | But it is thought MSPs will not back plans to raise the age for buying drink from off-licences from 18 to 21. |
| The Tories said the pricing plans were "horribly flawed", while Labour warned against rushing measures through. | The Tories said the pricing plans were "horribly flawed", while Labour warned against rushing measures through. |
| The proposals form part of wide-ranging justice reforms being brought forward by the Holyrood administration. | The proposals form part of wide-ranging justice reforms being brought forward by the Holyrood administration. |
| Alcohol abuse costs Scotland £2.25bn every year in lost work days and costs to the health service and the Scottish Government said it was time to act. It's not the shopkeeper's duty to police what people drink Linda WilliamsConvenience store manager Send us your comments | |
| The number of patients treated for drink problems in Scottish hospitals has reached an all-time high. | The number of patients treated for drink problems in Scottish hospitals has reached an all-time high. |
| Official figures show there were 42,430 alcohol-related discharges from hospitals in 2007-08, a 20% increase over five years. | Official figures show there were 42,430 alcohol-related discharges from hospitals in 2007-08, a 20% increase over five years. |
| And statistics analysed for the Scottish Government last week showed that Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. | And statistics analysed for the Scottish Government last week showed that Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. |
| People aged over 16 drank the equivalent of 11.8 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2007. The figure for England and Wales was 9.9 litres. | |
| Health Minister Shona Robison said the amounts were linked to the availability of cheap alcohol. | |
| Supporters say setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol would reduce the availability of drinks high in alcohol but low in cost, thereby cutting consumption. | |
| Dr Bruce Ritson, chairman of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems, said: "This is a policy that's based on good evidence. | |
| "We know that price influences the amount we drink, and a unit pricing policy is a very sensible one because it raises the price of cheap booze." | |
| Competition law | Competition law |
| But retailers argue hard-pressed, law-abiding customers will be hit and opposition parties have expressed concern that proposals prompted by figures on Scotland's health and alcohol problems will be forced through without proper debate. | |
| Ministers have rejected suggestions that minimum pricing limits may breach competition law. | |
| They also want a ban on two-for-one drinks promotions, while retailers such as large nightclubs may have to contribute to the cost of policing in the area. | They also want a ban on two-for-one drinks promotions, while retailers such as large nightclubs may have to contribute to the cost of policing in the area. |
| The minority government still believes it is right to raise the off-licence purchase age, but has accepted there is not enough support for the plan in the Scottish Parliament. | The minority government still believes it is right to raise the off-licence purchase age, but has accepted there is not enough support for the plan in the Scottish Parliament. |
| It may opt for local schemes instead, under the wide-ranging Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill, due to be published shortly.The proposals are expected to include an end to heavy drink discounts | It may opt for local schemes instead, under the wide-ranging Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill, due to be published shortly.The proposals are expected to include an end to heavy drink discounts |
| However, Linda Williams, who runs a licensed convenience store in the Oxgangs area of Edinburgh, said ministers were coming at the problem from the wrong angle. | However, Linda Williams, who runs a licensed convenience store in the Oxgangs area of Edinburgh, said ministers were coming at the problem from the wrong angle. |
| "It needs to be tackled from an educational and social point of view, rather than legislation," she told BBC Scotland. | "It needs to be tackled from an educational and social point of view, rather than legislation," she told BBC Scotland. |
| "It's not the shopkeeper's duty to police what people drink." | "It's not the shopkeeper's duty to police what people drink." |
| Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said he accepted there were problems with heavy discounting of alcohol, particularly on drinks such as cider and alcopops, which appeal to youngsters. | Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said he accepted there were problems with heavy discounting of alcohol, particularly on drinks such as cider and alcopops, which appeal to youngsters. |
| But he added: "Our preference would be to see these issues tackled through the tax system, which would involve co-operation with Westminster. | |
| "As it currently stands, the minimum pricing plan is horribly flawed." | |
| Richard Baker, the Scottish Labour justice spokesman, said ministers appeared "hell-bent" on making the changes, adding: "We need to establish if the minimum-pricing model proposed by the SNP is workable, or even legal, before going ahead. | Richard Baker, the Scottish Labour justice spokesman, said ministers appeared "hell-bent" on making the changes, adding: "We need to establish if the minimum-pricing model proposed by the SNP is workable, or even legal, before going ahead. |
| "Labour has already said we believe the Nationalists' proposals on alcohol and criminal justice are in a mess, but trying to bulldozer controversial measures like these goes against any sense of normal parliamentary practice." | "Labour has already said we believe the Nationalists' proposals on alcohol and criminal justice are in a mess, but trying to bulldozer controversial measures like these goes against any sense of normal parliamentary practice." |
| Meanwhile, campaigners are urging the Westminster government to scrap a rise in beer tax in the next Budget because of the recession. | |
| The Campaign for Real Ale and the British Beer and Pub Association both argue an above-inflation rise would put the pub industry under further pressure. |