Paying the price for better health

MINIMUM alcohol pricing must be the most heavily scrutinised policy in Scottish Government history.

A decade after it was set in motion, the highest court in the land has declared it legal.

What an ordeal for a policy designed to tackle a well-known Scottish problem – alcohol abuse.

Critics warn it will hurt the poorest while failing to stop a hardcore who need help, not higher bills.

But there is a problem in Scotland with alcohol and it has to be addressed. To ignore it would be an abdication of responsibility.

To their credit, the SNP Government have pushed hard to win people over to the policy, which is backed by doctors and many in the drinks industry.

Nicola Sturgeon fought stubborn opposition resistance for years and watched her first attempt fail.

The second attempt, with enough cross-party support, was tied up for years by the Scotch Whisky Association.

Unfortunately, in all that time, the policy has only been tested for legality – not whether it actually works.

Ironically, the argument hasn’t changed. It’s just that the roadblocks have been removed.

The policy now has to be brought in quickly and properly evaluated.

The Government should be sympathetic to concerns and be careful not to harm a brand as important as Scotch. But the bigger picture here is the health of a nation.