Call for new campaign to tackle alcohol abuse
Political Correspondent A NEW national information campaign to tackle alcohol abuse should be produced to hammer home the message on the dangers of drink, according to an MSP.
After the Scottish Government finally got the go ahead to implement its minimum pricing of alcohol policy, Labour MSP Monica Lennon said a culture change is required.
Ms Lennon who has told of her own family’s experience of alcoholism and the death of her father at 60, to highlight the damage done by excessive drinking.
She said: “Alcohol harm costs Scotland £3.6 billion each year and is ripping lives apart.”
She congratulated the Scottish Government over the minimum pricing ruling but said more action was also needed.
She added: “Minimum unit pricing on its own is not a panacea. Changing Scotland’s relationship with alcohol and reducing harm will require a radical culture change.”
The MSP asked if the Scottish Government would consider initiating a national information campaign highlighting the Chief Medical Officers revised drinking guidelines.
John Swinney, satanding in for Nicola Sturgeon at First Minis- ter’s Questions, said the government would consider a new campaign and agreed there needs to be a culture change.
Later Ms Lennon said she didn’t think people were aware of the number of units in the guidelines which has changes.
The guidance is it is safest for both men and women not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
It also states: “If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risks of death from long term illnesses and from accidents and injuries.”
Ms Lennon added that people were not as aware as they could be about the other associated risks of excessive drinking
She added: “Only one in 10 people realise alcohol is a contributing factor in many cancers.” She said a television campaign similar to drink driving and cancer awareness would help make a difference, with a heavy social media presence to also target a younger audience.
Health secretary, Shona Robison, is to set out the next steps in the alcohol strategy, following the minimum pricing ruling, next Tuesday.