The Scottish government today announced bold plans to take further action to act on the availability and price of alcohol by introducing minimum retail pricing measures. The plans were announced today as the Scottish National Party published a series of documents as A Framework for Action.
The introduction of a minimum price is aimed at targeting practices believed to be contributing to mounting alcohol-related health and social harms, such as supermarkets using alcohol as a 'loss-leader'. The measures are being brought in based on findings that show controlling price is an effective way to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. In addition, the proposals and next steps set out a range of further actions including:
- The end of promotions such as 'buy one get one free'
- Legislation to require licensed premises to make smaller measures available of 125ml of wine and 25ml measures of spirits
- Raising the minimum legal purchase age for off-sales purchases to 21
- Introducing powers to place fees on licensed premises in order to contribute to the adverse consequences of alcohol consumption
- Action to restrict further the use of marketing materials within licensed premises
- Powers to introduce alcohol only checkouts in off-sales premises
In addition, a range of further measures was announced to continue to improve alcohol health promotion, treatment and support. Funding of an additional £85m over the next three years was announced to support alcohol treatment and prevention, especially focusing on brief interventions, an effective method of reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption (see commissioners' guidance here).
An article in today's Guardian has already prompted active debate over the news, highlighting that hospital admissions from alcohol-related diseases and violence have now exceeded heart disease for the first time. it said one study suggested alcohol misuse, binging and violence cost the Scottish economy £2.25bn a year. Scottish officials admitted that it would be a challenge to ensure the measures were "effective, proportionate and legally robust" and would need time to find the right price and policy.
In England, the government last year announced measures to tackle irresponsible promotions through a mandatory licensing code, but opted out of addressing loss-leading despite consultation support. The terms of the mandatory code are yet to be set, though health lobbyists such as the Alcohol Health Alliance UK are still calling for pricing controls as the 'most effective way to reduce alcohol harm'.
Recent news has announced that plans to introduce minimum pricing measures will be delayed by a year as the SNP will be forced to bring in new legislation rather than through existing laws:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics/SNP-crackdown-on-discount-alcohol.5058108.jp
Posted by: james morris | Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 02:58 PM