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Last chance to air views on alcohol proposals
28/08/2008
With less than two weeks left before the end of the Scottish Government's consultation on tackling alcohol misuse, people across Scotland are being urged to join the debate.
Across the country, many men and women are regularly drinking above sensible limits and as a result alcohol-related hospital admissions and health problems have risen dramatically over the past decade.
Other figures show bad drinking habits are picked up early by our young people. Experts see a clear link between the big drop in the relative price of alcohol and rising consumption.
The key Scottish Government proposals for changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol and slashing the £2.25 billion annual 'clearup' cost include a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, ending irresponsible promotions, raising the off-sales alcohol purchase age to 21 and a social responsibility fee for some retailers.
This will be combined with better enforcement and education about the dangers of alcohol misuse. Already, the Scottish Government has allocated an extra 85 million pounds in funding for prevention and treatment for people with alcohol problems to a record 120 million pounds over the next three years.
Following the end of the consultation period, the Scottish Government hopes to build consensus across the political spectrum and wider society as it finalises its policy approach.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison, said:
"Our proposals for getting to grips with alcohol misuse have sparked a lively debate across Scottish society.
"It's clear that many people are very concerned about the heavy toll rapidly-rising alcohol consumption is taking on our country.
"This Government has taken the bull by the horns and put forward radical measures to rebalance Scotland's relationship with alcohol, because we don't want to see future generations suffer because of the way we're drinking now.
"We believe it's time for action. But we want the Scottish people to understand where we're coming from and tell us what they think. That's why I want to encourage people across Scotland to respond to the consultation before it closes on September 9."
- In Scotland in 2006-7 there were 41,651 alcohol-related hospital admissions - more than 114 people every day
- In 2005 there were 2,372 deaths in Scotland attributed to alcohol misuse - an increase of more than 300 percent since 1980 (ISD)
- There were almost 12,000 drink driving offences in Scotland in 2006-7
- Fifty-one percent of Scots think alcohol is the drug which causes most harm to the country, compared with 22 per cent who say heroin and 9 per cent who say tobacco (Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007)
- Of those 15 year old girls who drank in the previous week almost a third (32 per cent) consumed 14 units or more, while 28 per cent of boys drank 21 units or more - more than recommended weekly limits for adults
- An audit of Scottish A&E departments suggested that at least 70 per cent of assaults may be alcohol-related (NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, 2006)
The consultation closes on September 9.