Drop in sales is the first round in our battle with booze

Scotland’s problem with drink is well documented and the terrible consequences couldn’t be clearer.

While many people are responsible with booze, there are those who are not.

Drink often plays a major part in domestic abuse, violence on our streets, homelessness, and early deaths.

While some people may not have welcomed minimum pricing as the proper strategy to tackle the issue, it does appear to be having an early and positive impact.

Sales of strong ciders, often favoured by alcoholics, are down by 8%.

Yes, it is a small drop, but it is a start nevertheless.

The anecdotal stories from doctors of drinkers who have cut from eight drinks a night to just the four may not be reason to celebrate quite yet but again, it is small progress. Perhaps, if we are to see a real change in the way Scotland approaches its drinking culture – and the problem we have with drug abuse – then we desperately need more investment aimed at persuading future generations to choose a healthier lifestyle.

Vastly increasing the funding given to groups running sports clubs, art classes, music lessons and the like may just help steer kids away from temptation and on to the right path. Instead, such groups face funding cuts or pricing themselves out of the reach of some families, meaning bored youngsters find more dangerous ways to occupy themselves.

And that is when problems with drink and drugs start.

Then we are left spending millions, even billions, treating the symptoms of those problems.

And, all too often, that is simply too late.