NHS HIGHLAND ENDORSE MINIMUM PRICING

Jim Mather Argyll & Bute MSP, has welcomed support from NHS
Highland for the Scottish Government's proposals to introduce minimum
unit pricing for alcohol. This support has been revealed in a letter
written by Garry Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland to Jim Mather's
colleague, Dave Thompson, MSP for Highlands & Islands, and released this
week.

Jim Mather said:

"The proposals in the government's Bill are aimed at
reducing some of the considerable damage caused to Scottish society by
the availability of low priced alcohol and special offers and promotions
from some retailers.

Mr Coutts has stated;
"While it is a minority of people who drink to excess
and it is clear that many people use alcohol sensibly, the scale of the
problem is such that my board believes that measures must be taken to
try to reduce excessive consumption.
We are firmly of the view that only a minimum pricing
strategy has the ability to do this."

I very much welcome this statement from the NHS Board
and the fact that our local Board is the first to come out with
unequivocal support for the principles behind the proposed legislation.
Minimum pricing will have very little effect on the majority of
responsible drinkers but is good to be able to add the endorsement of
this legislation to that of Health professionals, the police and the
licensed trade. The British Medical Association, the World Health
Organisation , the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland,
members of the Scottish Licenced Trade Association and many other
informed sources in Scotland, the UK and of international repute support
the policy of minimum pricing.

The opportunism displayed by Labour, Conservative and
Liberal Democrat politicians who predict that such a policy would have
little or no effect on excessive drinking is directly called into
question. I hope and trust that those politicians will yet come to
recognise the support that this legislation is attracting and engage in
the importance of taking steps to tackling the nation's problems with
alcohol.

Minimum pricing of alcohol is not a panacea ; on its own
it will not resolve the problems that we face from the irresponsible
use of alcohol but it is an important factor in the steps that the
Scottish Government are taking to tackle this blight upon our society."