Warning over minimum booze prices

Mar 3 2010

A minimum price for alcohol needs to be set at a high enough level to discourage over-consumption by all members of society and not just heavy drinkers, MSPs have been told.

Doctors and youth group representatives told Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee that Government plans to increase alcohol prices would only be effective if they targeted the whole population.

A Government-commissioned study suggests that the greatest impact of minimum pricing - 40p per unit is used as an illustration - will be on heavy drinkers who buy cheap, strong alcohol.