Scotland leading way on alcohol

Scotland is leading the way in alcohol policy in the UK while the UK Government “comes out worst” on most measures a new report has found.

Academics from Stirling and Sheffield universities examined the different measures adopted across the four parts of the United Kingdom when it comes to dealing with the nation’s drink problem.

They have now recommend- ed the UK Government should “reverse its opposition” to minimum pricing for alcohol.

Holyrood has already passed legislation to introduce a minimum unit price (MUP) of 50p for alcoholic drinks, although this has not yet been implemented because of a legal challenge currently before the European Court of Justice.

The report by Dr Niamh Fitzgerald, from Stirling University, and Colin Angus, at Sheffield University, highlighted the Scottish Government’s support for minimum pricing and praised it for leading the way by cutting the drink-driving limit north of the border and investing record amounts in alcohol treatment.

Dr Fitzgerald said: “Alcohol policy at UK Government level is in disarray...”

According to the study, “overall Scotland has the strongest approach to evidence-based alcohol policy”, and while Wales and Northern Ireland policies are “strong in some areas and weaker in others”, it noted that both have fewer powers over relevant legislation than the Scottish Government.