Commenting on the Scottish parliament’s Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill, Sir Ian Gilmore, RCP special adviser on alcohol and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said:
Healthcare professionals throughout Scotland deal with the consequences of heavy drinking on a daily basis and will be delighted that the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill has passed. A minimum unit price is the fairest and most targeted way of helping those most at risk of damage to their health – young people and the heaviest drinkers.
We are especially pleased that the Scottish government has agreed a minimum unit price of 50p. At this level it will have a significant impact and we hope that Westminster will follow suit.
The evidence shows that by increasing the price, reducing the availability, and tackling the aggressive marketing of alcohol, we can reduce the burden of alcohol-related health harm.
Find out more about the RCP's work on alcohol policy
For further information, please contact Andrew McCracken, RCP Communications and New Media Adviser, on +44 (0)203 075 1354 / 07990 745 608, or email andrew.mccracken@rcplondon.ac.uk