This is right for nation’s health

BY NICOLA STURGEON

there is strong evidence that as part of a package of measures, it can help reduce alcohol consumption. 24 deaths a week and costs Scotland £3.6billion a year, or £900 per adult. Ministers say less money will have to be spent dealing with the consequences of alcohol misuse. Alcohol Focus Scotland say in the first year alone, minimum pricing could prevent 60 alcohol-related deaths, 1600 hospital admissions and 3500 crimes. The Institute of Alcohol Studies say a 50p MUP would have minimal effect on moderate drinkers, while heavy drinkers would drink 134 fewer units a year on average. WE’VE long known that Scotland’s relationship with alcohol is a troubled one. We drink nearly a fifth more per person than the rest of the UK, unsurprisingly leading to higher rates of death and illness. That’s just unacceptable. As if the human misery wasn’t bad enough, alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6billion each year – £900 for every adult. That’s why we need minimum unit pricing. As health secretary in 2011, I was proud to introduce legislation to Parliament for minimum unit pricing which was approved by an overwhelming majority of MSPs in 2012. So I am absolutely delighted that after five long years in the courts, the UK Supreme Court yesterday backed our plans. In those five years, alcohol- HAVE MINIMUM PRICING YET? Implementation of the law has been held up due to the long-running legal challenge from alcohol industry bodies, led by the Scotch Whisky Association. Their challenge has already been heard at various levels at Scotland’s highest civil court, the Court of Session, and gone to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Only after that did the hearings move to the UK Supreme Court. Ministers have always said they will move “as quickly as is practicable” to put the policy in place. related deaths have risen, so we’ll now get on with implementing this pioneering and life-saving policy as soon as possible.

Research predicts that deaths and hospital admissions will fall from the very first year of operation. That’s why minimum unit pricing is backed by public health experts and those who work with problem drinkers every day.

Our policy is also targeted. Given the proven link between consumption and harm, we deliberately want to target the cheap, high-strength booze that causes untold physical, mental and emotional damage – drink which can still be bought today for less than 20 pence a unit

So at our preferred price per unit of 50 pence, premium products like single malt whiskies are unaffected, while moderate drinkers may notice a small increase in cost.

Having served as health secretary and now First Minister, I am clear that is a small price worth paying.

Yesterday’s ruling was a historic one, of international significance.

As such, I am confident that our actions are of interest around the world – and where we lead, others will now follow.