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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol abuse 'costs Scots £900' | Alcohol abuse 'costs Scots £900' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Alcohol misuse could be costing every adult in Scotland £900 every year, according to a new report. | Alcohol misuse could be costing every adult in Scotland £900 every year, according to a new report. |
| York University economists said the problem may be costing taxpayers between £2.4bn and £4.6bn. | York University economists said the problem may be costing taxpayers between £2.4bn and £4.6bn. |
| The Scottish government said the research strengthened its argument for minimum alcohol pricing. | The Scottish government said the research strengthened its argument for minimum alcohol pricing. |
| Ministers do not have enough support to get the plan through parliament, with opposition parties saying it could be illegal under European competition law. | Ministers do not have enough support to get the plan through parliament, with opposition parties saying it could be illegal under European competition law. |
| The research, which looked at the impact of alcohol misuse across society, put a much higher cost on the problem than the £2.25bn figure previously used by the Scottish government. | The research, which looked at the impact of alcohol misuse across society, put a much higher cost on the problem than the £2.25bn figure previously used by the Scottish government. |
| The time for stalling is over and the need for action is clear Nicola SturgeonScottish health secretary | The time for stalling is over and the need for action is clear Nicola SturgeonScottish health secretary |
| Using the report's mid-point estimate of £3.5bn, it calculated the problem was costing the health service £268.8m and social care £230.5m. | Using the report's mid-point estimate of £3.5bn, it calculated the problem was costing the health service £268.8m and social care £230.5m. |
| Crime-related costs were put at £727.1m, while the impact to the economy stood at £865.7m. | Crime-related costs were put at £727.1m, while the impact to the economy stood at £865.7m. |
| And the human cost caused by suffering through premature death was estimated at £1.46bn. | And the human cost caused by suffering through premature death was estimated at £1.46bn. |
| Challenging her opponents, Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The time for stalling is over and the need for action is clear. | Challenging her opponents, Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The time for stalling is over and the need for action is clear. |
| "This report, which takes a more comprehensive view than any previous study, indicates that the total cost of alcohol misuse to Scotland's economy and society is even worse than we thought." | "This report, which takes a more comprehensive view than any previous study, indicates that the total cost of alcohol misuse to Scotland's economy and society is even worse than we thought." |
| Minimum pricing forms part of a range of measures to tackle Scotland's drink problems, contained in the proposed Alcohol Bill. | Minimum pricing forms part of a range of measures to tackle Scotland's drink problems, contained in the proposed Alcohol Bill. |
| Industry 'damage' | Industry 'damage' |
| But rival Holyrood parties have maintained their opposition to the move. | But rival Holyrood parties have maintained their opposition to the move. |
| Labour health spokeswoman, Jackie Baillie, said her party had discounted minimum pricing because is was "untested and possibly illegal", adding: "The challenge now is for us to come up with something better." | Labour health spokeswoman, Jackie Baillie, said her party had discounted minimum pricing because is was "untested and possibly illegal", adding: "The challenge now is for us to come up with something better." |
| Deputy Scottish Tory leader Murdo Fraser said his party backed targeted tax rises on known problem drinks, such as super-strength beer and cider. | Deputy Scottish Tory leader Murdo Fraser said his party backed targeted tax rises on known problem drinks, such as super-strength beer and cider. |
| "We oppose the SNP's policy of indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry," he said. | "We oppose the SNP's policy of indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry," he said. |
| The Liberal Democrats' Robert Brown, added: "The Scottish government would do far better to bring forward measures to tackle irresponsible promotions and selling below cost price." | |
| The York University report pointed out it was "important to recognise the levels of uncertainty around many of the generated costs" and that figures should only be considered as "indicative". | The York University report pointed out it was "important to recognise the levels of uncertainty around many of the generated costs" and that figures should only be considered as "indicative". |