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More drinks firms back price plan
31/01/2010
Independent beer and whisky producers have added their voices to growing support in the alcohol industry for minimum pricing.
Brewers Harviestoun; Edradour, Scotland's smallest independent whisky distillery; and the Society of Independent Brewers Scotland, representing 30 independent Scottish breweries, have joined drinks giant Tennent's in publicly backing the policy, part of the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill.
Minimum pricing would not raise the price of all drinks. By setting a 'floor price' at which a unit of alcohol could be sold, it would target the dirt-cheap supermarket white ciders, super-strength lagers and low-grade spirits sought out by problem drinkers. Responsibly-priced products would be unaffected.
The proposal is part of a wider package of measures in the Bill designed to help tackle Scotland's alcohol misuse problem, the cost of which to the NHS, police, social services and the economy was recently put at a mid-range estimate of £3.56 billion per year.
Harviestoun Brewery owners, Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald, said:
"We understand that authoritative medical opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of minimum prices for alcoholic drinks. We think it is sensible and straightforward to follow medical advice on health matters.
"We hope that the Scottish Parliament can now move forward and introduce minimum pricing through good, workable, considered legislation. We trust that the drinks industry which is firmly committed to a responsible approach to drinking will support this valuable social proposal."
Andrew Symington, owner of the Edradour whisky distillery, Perthshire, said:
"Edradour makes a quality product and we encourage people to enjoy it responsibly. We do not engage in irresponsible promotions and believe the industry is damaging itself when it does.
"On occasions you can buy bottles of alcohol in supermarkets for less than bottled water, and in some cases alcohol is sold for less than the actual cost of duty and VAT. It does not make any sense or do the industry any good at all.
"We welcome the Scottish Government's initiative in trying to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol and hope that the Scottish Parliament passes sensible legislation on this soon. As Scotland's smallest distiller, Edradour is proud to join with Scotland's largest brewer - Tennent's - and with the Scottish Government and the medical community in support for minimum pricing."
Douglas Ross, Chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers Scotland, said:
"Minimum pricing is, potentially, a way of protecting our pubs, their customers and, ultimately, the health of the nation. Without the lure of cheap off-trade drink, consumers would surely start to come back to the pub.
"Without deeply discounted cases of lager, draught beer becomes a much more attractive proposition, enjoyed responsibly in a safe and controlled environment.
"As craft producers of quality beers, not just in cask conditioned form but also as major players in the bottled beer market place, our members fully understand that minimum pricing will only affect the cheapest products on supermarket shelves and that it will have no direct impact on the premium bottled beer sector where our products sit."
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"It's becoming increasingly clear that the critical voices who have been shouting the loudest do not speak for the alcohol industry as a whole. Responsible producers of quality drinks have no difficulty in backing minimum pricing.
"It's now up to this growing coalition - which also includes the four Chief Medical Officers of the UK, the BMA, the Royal Colleges, the police and the pub trade - to win over the doubters at the committee stages of the Alcohol Bill.
"I am confident that once they have properly considered the overwhelming evidence and weight of opinion in favour of minimum pricing, they will reconsider any premature stances they may have taken.
"Minimum pricing is not a magic bullet, but it is a step in the right direction. That is why it is a key component in our package of measures to tackle Scotland's multi-billion pound alcohol problem."
On January 25, Scotland's largest brewer, Tennent's, announced its backing for minimum pricing, describing it as "part of the solution" to Scotland's alcohol problem.
The House of Commons' Health Select Committee's report on alcohol, published on January 8, has called on the UK Government to introduce minimum pricing and new licensing rules modelled on ones already introduced in Scotland. The committee's report followed an 11 month investigation which featured evidence sessions from contributors ranging from health experts to representatives from the alcohol industry and supermarkets.
Research from the University of Sheffield has shown that minimum pricing for alcohol could reduce alcohol consumption, particularly among problem drinkers and result in fewer deaths, illnesses and crimes linked to alcohol misuse.
A survey of supermarket alcohol prices shows that minimum pricing would target cheap, high strength white ciders, lagers and low-grade spirits, while leaving responsibly-priced products untouched.
The Scottish Government introduced its Alcohol Bill to Parliament in November 2009. The Bill's key proposals include:
- A minimum price per unit of alcohol to raise the cost of the cheapest ciders, lagers and low-grade spirits favoured by problem drinkers
- A ban on irresponsible off-sales promotions which encourage excessive drinking
- A duty on licensing boards to consider raising the off-sales purchase age to 21 where appropriate to develop local solutions to local problems
- A power to introduce a 'social responsibility fee' on some retailers to offset the costs of dealing with drink problems
The Scottish Government has committed a record investment of almost £120 million over the period of the spending review (2008-11) - the single largest increase ever for tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland, and almost a tripling in resources.