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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Scottish government reintroduces alcohol pricing bill | Scottish government reintroduces alcohol pricing bill |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Plans to reintroduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in Scotland have been announced. | Plans to reintroduce a minimum price for a unit of alcohol in Scotland have been announced. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it was important that Scotland's "battle with alcohol misuse" was tackled. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said it was important that Scotland's "battle with alcohol misuse" was tackled. |
| Official figures have suggested Scots drink more than people in other parts of the UK. | Official figures have suggested Scots drink more than people in other parts of the UK. |
| A first attempt by the SNP to push through a similar price proposal failed during the last parliament. | A first attempt by the SNP to push through a similar price proposal failed during the last parliament. |
| MSPs rejected the idea before the May election, but after the SNP's majority win at that poll this fresh plan is set to become law before next summer. | MSPs rejected the idea before the May election, but after the SNP's majority win at that poll this fresh plan is set to become law before next summer. |
| At this stage, the Scottish government has not fixed a unit price. | At this stage, the Scottish government has not fixed a unit price. |
| During the first attempt to bring forward the legislation, the SNP minority government proposed setting the minimum price at 45p per unit. | During the first attempt to bring forward the legislation, the SNP minority government proposed setting the minimum price at 45p per unit. |
| That would have resulted in; | That would have resulted in; |
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| A unit figure will be suggested in the new year after research by the University of Sheffield, which is re-running its minimum price modelling to produce the most up-to-date data. | A unit figure will be suggested in the new year after research by the University of Sheffield, which is re-running its minimum price modelling to produce the most up-to-date data. |
| Ms Sturgeon promised her party's annual conference on 21 October that a new minimum pricing on alcohol bill would be back before MSPs "within the month". | Ms Sturgeon promised her party's annual conference on 21 October that a new minimum pricing on alcohol bill would be back before MSPs "within the month". |
| Following the introduction of the new bill at Holyrood, the health secretary said Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol was one of the "most pressing public health challenges facing us as a nation". | Following the introduction of the new bill at Holyrood, the health secretary said Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol was one of the "most pressing public health challenges facing us as a nation". |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "We have introduced a ban on quantity discounts, and promotions in off-sales have been restricted, but already we have seen that without minimum pricing these attempts to take action on Scotland's alcohol problem are being undermined. | Ms Sturgeon added: "We have introduced a ban on quantity discounts, and promotions in off-sales have been restricted, but already we have seen that without minimum pricing these attempts to take action on Scotland's alcohol problem are being undermined. |
| "By setting a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, we can raise the price of the cheap supermarket white ciders, lager and value spirits sought out by problem drinkers. | "By setting a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, we can raise the price of the cheap supermarket white ciders, lager and value spirits sought out by problem drinkers. |
| "I hope that this time around MSPs will do the right thing and back this policy that has the support of doctors, nurses, the police and growing numbers of the general population. I will not shirk from leading the way in addressing this challenge. It is time for Scotland to win its battle with the booze." | "I hope that this time around MSPs will do the right thing and back this policy that has the support of doctors, nurses, the police and growing numbers of the general population. I will not shirk from leading the way in addressing this challenge. It is time for Scotland to win its battle with the booze." |
| The Scottish government has estimated that the country's alcohol problems cost £3.56bn each year - or £900 for every adult. | The Scottish government has estimated that the country's alcohol problems cost £3.56bn each year - or £900 for every adult. |
| Dogmatic approach | |
| Scottish Labour's health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said his party did not believe minimum unit pricing was the answer to tackling the country's drink problem. | |
| He claimed the move would deliver a £140m annual windfall for big supermarkets "without providing a single extra penny for our NHS". | |
| Dr Simpson added: "Scottish Labour has proposed a whole raft of measures that we believe will help tackle Scotland's relationship with alcohol, but the SNP's narrowly-defined bill - designed to shut down debate - means other proposals cannot even be considered. | |
| "The SNP think minimum unit pricing is some sort of magical silver bullet, but unfortunately no one measure is going to tackle Scotland's relationship with alcohol. | |
| "If the SNP government is serious about tackling alcohol abuse it should drop its dogmatic approach, broaden its bill so a range of other proposals can be included." |