Fraser slams "failing" SNP alcohol policy

Commenting on the Scottish Government's proposed 45p minimum price for alcohol, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing , Murdo Fraser MSP, said:

"At long last the SNP has come clean about its blanket minimum price for all drinks. But even the SNP's own Sheffield study showed that for heavy drinkers this will make hardly any difference to the amount that they consume. And 76% of people in last week's YouGov poll said a minimum price would make no difference to their alcohol intake.

"The supermarkets will be jumping up and down with glee at the tens of millions of pounds of extra profits they would stand to make as ordinary people are forced to pay more for a bottle of wine or scotch. Unfortunately for them, it's not going to happen. The other opposition parties back the Conservative solution of targeting extra tax and duty on the problem drinks, avoiding the unintended consequences of the SNP plans and thus making sure any extra revenue goes to the taxpayer.

"This is a last ditch attempt by the SNP to rescue its failing policy. It won't work. It's time for them to join us in producing a workable, targeted and reasonable plan which has the support of the public and can help Scotland get to grips with its sometimes unhealthy relationship with drink."

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