Government misses opportunity to target ‘alcohol tax’ money to help victims

Nicola Sturgeon says the eyes of the world are on Scotland (your report, 1 May). Indeed, they are due to the Scottish National Party having highlighted to the entire planet the scale of alcohol-related problems in Scotland.

For years the SNP have claimed Scotland as a great place to live and work in. Now they are displaying a huge national problem that must be, to some extent, laid at the door of these same politicians who have failed to get this message over to the population here.

Misuse of alcohol must be treated, primarily, by education – not a great standpoint in the SNP annals of success.

If alcohol is to be more heavily “taxed”, then at least the government should benefit from higher revenue to combat the problem, but the SNP have not seized this opportunity. There may be cross party support for this new measure but it will always remain solely an SNP policy in the minds of the voters.

It is , indeed, a bold and brave move by Ms Sturgeon. (DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow Ironically, the big winners with the introduction of minimum alcohol pricing are the supermarkets and off licences who will now be making huge profits from alcohol sales and, in particular, cheaper products which they can now sell at a vast mark-up as they continue to target their sales to increase profit levels .

If the SNP administration had listened to good advice they would have diverted these profits into research and work helping those with alcohol addiction to beat the problem. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN Mugiemoss Road Bucksburn Aberdeen