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Alcohol Focus Scotland chief executive, Alison Douglas, told Press Association that Scotland continues to have “considerably more” deaths linked to alcohol than England and Wales.
She said that it was now time to review the current 50p a unit level, saying that the “impact of the current rate is likely to have been eroded due to inflation”.
Her call is supported by Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon, who tweeted: “Alcohol harm in Scotland remains a massive issue and is not getting the attention it needs. Alcohol Focus is right to call for a review of the 50p minimum price. There’s a case for an increase.”
In addition, Douglas also wants the availability and marketing of alcohol changed. “Reducing how readily available alcohol is and how heavily it is marketed could help to improve the lives of thousands of Scots by preventing problems developing in the first place,” she added.
