Minimum unit pricing will see responsible penalised for actions of the feckless

Kenny Macaskill (Perspective, 16 November) writes a fair piece on the recent court ruling on alcohol pricing. It is, at least, an honest attempt to tackle a serious problem in Scotland. Yet some are uneasy about this (apart from the fact of distorting market prices, by raising them ).

A problem is that responsible, honest tipplers who appreciate a bargain from the local supermarket will be penalised by this move. It also raises the prospect of a thriving cross border trade emerg- ing. When the responsible are penalised because of the actions of the feckless, something is wrong. Note that this does not seem to bother the SNP government.

WILLIAM BALLANTINE

Dean Road Bo’ness, West Lothian

What good news for Berwickupon-tweed and Carlisle this week.

Anyone with an eye to an investment can start looking for commercial premises in those two Borders towns to set up cheap off-licences for Scottish trade.

Soon, something which used to be a feature of life in the south of England, as people visited France to stock up on cheap alcohol, will be a firm part of cross-border trade. As we voted, luckily, by a great margin to remain one country, there won’t be any Customs checks and I fully expect there to be large numbers of heavily laden four-by-fours making a weekly trip to satisfy the thirst of Edinburgh and Glasgow residents who do not feel that the unhealthy lifestyle of some should be allowed to penalise them.

There may even be an increase in home-brewing and the odd illicit still may be set up by those who know how to do it. Those who already order their wine from suppliers in England will now simply add their gin, beer and whisky at English prices.

The spirit (if you will pardon the pun) of Whisky Galore is still alive and the SNP will be no more successful than Captain Waggett was at keeping Scots from their dram.

ANDREW HN GRAY

Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

After the announcement seven Supreme Court judges have supported the principal health rationale behind minimum unit pricing for alcohol, it is predictable that any Scottish Government initiative will be attacked. And so it was in Letters (17 November). The principal arguments of correspondents seem to be that the measure will most affect poor people (who ought be allowed the freedom to smoke and drink themselves to death) and that it will lead to “booze cruises”.

The fact that the price of a pint or a nip in pubs won’t be affected is disregarded and we are now faced with the prospect of the poor people in Aberdeenshire driving to Carlisle to acquire cheap booze. Of course, this scenario may become academic if the UK Government follows the Scottish Government’s lead.

GILL TURNER

Derby Street, Edinburgh