LABOUR ABDICATE RESPONSIBILITY ON ALCOHOL

Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL / JUSTICE / HEALTH CORRESPONDENTS


COMMISSION CON AS NO PRICE PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD


The SNP today (Sunday) said Labour had completely abdicated responsibility for tackling Scotland’s alcohol problems as they failed to bring forward their over-hyped proposals for a floor price on alcohol.


Instead it seems Labour will make no price proposal despite admitting that price and consumption are closely linked.


SNP MSP and member of the Health Committee Michael Matheson said:


“Labour has failed abysmally to show any leadership on the issue of alcohol.


“The truth is Labour and Labour’s Commission had nothing to say on price and no viable alternative to minimum pricing.


“By failing to put forward their own price proposals they have reached a new low in opposition. They are utterly bereft of ideas to tackle the link between price and consumption and have confirmed the public view that they are putting party politics before public health.


“Instead of stepping up to the plate, supporting minimum pricing and working to tackle Scotland’s problems Labour are focussing on only 0.5% of the alcohol sold in Scotland ignoring the cheap vodka and cider that lies behind many of the problems we face.


“The Labour price proposal was clearly a Commission con. It was put forward to get Labour out of their own embarrassment at finding no viable and effective alternative to minimum pricing. It was nothing more than an empty headline. Even the evidence to Labour’s Commission did not back their ineffective plan.


"It is now time for Labour to join with the BMA, ACPOS, Tennents, the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers, Molson Coors, the Children’s Commissioner, the Royal College of Physicians and Scotland’s churches and back minimum pricing.”


ENDS