Date Published: 23 June 2009

BMA Scotland calls for an end to the ridiculous pricing of alcohol

Doctors leaders today [Tuesday 23 June 2009] called for an end to the ridiculous pricing of alcohol for off sales in light of findings from the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS).

The survey shows that 52% of 13 year olds and 82% of 15 year olds have had at least one alcoholic drink and that shops and off-licences were the second most common source for purchasing alcohol.

Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland said:

?When alcohol is cheaper than bottled water, we have to worry about what message we are sending our children.

Alcohol costs our economy around £1 billion every year, but the human cost is much higher. One death every six hours in Scotland is caused by alcohol.

There is no single solution to Scotland's alcohol problem, but evidence shows that there is a direct relationship between the price of alcohol and the amount consumed. BMA Scotland supports the introduction of minimum pricing to stop retailers from selling alcohol at very low prices.?

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