SNP's indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing doesn't target problem drinks

Tennent's has said it believes the SNP's indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing policy is ‘part of the solution' as we seek to tackle alcohol abuse in Scotland.

Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, says:

"We all agree the human cost of alcohol misuse in Scotland is immense. Families are torn apart and communities are shattered because of it.

"That is why Scottish Conservatives support targeting problem drinks and raising their price to cut consumption. We support targeted alcohol taxation, with a rise in Excise Duty on alcopops, and super-strength beers and ciders.

"But we oppose the SNP's policy of indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers and will cause immense damage to the Scotch whisky industry.

"We need to have better enforcement of the current laws, particularly in restricting sales to those under age and prosecuting those who sell to underage drinkers.

"We should have much better education on the adverse health effects of alcohol.

"We need to clamp down on irresponsible promotions by retailers, which is why we support a ban on retailers from selling alcohol below cost price.

"Our proposals of targeted pricing are effective, evidence based and legally competent. They stand in sharp contrast to the proposal by the SNP Government for indiscriminate blanket minimum pricing, which meets none of these key tests."

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