Scotland ‘requires more action to cut alcohol consumption’

The government is being called upon to take more decisive action to address the issue of excess alcohol consumption in Scotland.

Medical advocacy organisation Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) has stated that the introduction of a minimum unit cost is necessary to avoid drinks being sold at irresponsibly low prices.

Tom Roberts, project director for the independent body, expressed concern that the government's current plan to ban the sale of alcohol below the cost of duty plus VAT will only have an effect on a very limited number of products.

He added: "The government must look to policies that will increase the price of alcohol to levels that will reduce consumption."

This comes after Alcohol Concern raised similar issues last week, noting that the duty plus VAT measure will only increase the cost of two out of more than 600 products it surveyed in Scotland and northern England.