Cabinet Secretary of Justice Scotland, Kenny McAskill, MSP, key note speaker at today's Bar Scotland Show in Edinburgh spoke of his vision for managing alcohol consumption in Scotland for the benefit of the nation's health, public finances, and generally in the public interest. He said that "alcohol misuse-not use" has a detrimental effect on the healthcare system and costs. He was pleased to see that the transition period to the new licensing regime is progressing "smoothly" which contrasted with the panel session earlier where many on the panel and in the audience expressed their concerns at the inconsistencies in policies and decisions of licensing boards across Scotland.
The subject of the proposed Social Responsibility Levy was also debated in an earlier Question Time style Strategy Session. The general consensus on the panel was that social responsibility should really lie with the individuals abusing alcohol and not just the licence trade. Mr. McAskill stated that the imposition of such a levy on the licence trade was some way off with a "number of issues still to be fleshed out". He informed the audience that the government will take the current economic situation into account and that a social responsibility levy would not be imposed "until the economy warms up".
The Cabinet Secretary expressed his concern on the growing trend of more people opting to drink at home rather than go out. He said that this is obviously the cause of the "irresponsible" cheap pricing of alcohol in supermarkets. As a result more alcohol is consumed at home than would be the case if people went out to pubs and clubs where they would be drinking alcohol in a controlled environment and where it would be more expensive. (So, state control appears to be the motivating force here). Mr. McAskill said "alcohol should not be cheaper than a bottle of water". He said that high strength alcohol at cheap prices has to stop so that health problems can be reduced. Home drinking is more of a problem than the pubs and clubs. Mr McAskill quoted the Strathclyde Police who have named a certain well known brand of bottled beer as "wife beater". He wants a "radical new approach" with clear mechanisms in place and would prefer to see people going out and enjoying a social drink in pubs, cafes, clubs and restaurants, rather than drinking heavily at home.
He remained committed to bringing in a minimum pricing regime but now by a different legislative route. He talked of the need to persuade the public, colleagues and parliament on the benefits to the nation's health from minimum pricing. £2.25bn is the figure he put on the cost of alcohol misuse.
He was keen to point out that pubs are an important part of all communities whether urban or rural and recognises the "difficult journey" the licence trade has to undertake in the current economic climate. He would like to see a vibrant pub trade where people can go to enjoy a drink whether it be a coffee, soft drink or alcohol - not places where people will abuse or consume alcohol as quickly as possible.
When I asked if the government have comparative data from other countries where minimum pricing may already have been introduced as a possible tool to "persuade, educate and change the culture" Mr. McAskill replied that there is comparative data from places such as Canada and the Scandinavian countries, but they do not have the same level of abuse as we do in Scotland.
Do you think minimum pricing should be imposed on alcohol?
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