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No more half measures: alcohol charity demands bold alcohol action in next Parliament

Scotland’s national alcohol charity, Alcohol Focus Scotland, has warned Scotland’s next MSPs that it’s time to get serious about tackling the cost of harm caused by alcohol.

Their manifesto describes the shocking human and economic cost of alcohol to Scotland, revealing that 50 Scots die due to alcohol each week, with someone hospitalised because of alcohol every 15 minutes.

Scotland’s alcohol problem is not limited to a small number of dependent drinkers though, with around 1 in 5 Scots still drinking at levels that harm our health – meaning a fifth of Scots are at higher risk of liver disease, cancer, heart disease and mental health problems.

Added to this is a staggering economic penalty of alcohol, estimated to be in the region of up to £10billion per year, including costs to the NHS, lost productivity and alcohol related crime.

The charity is calling on the next Scottish Parliament to rediscover Scotland’s previous leadership on preventing alcohol harm by committing to six key actions including restricting alcohol marketing, introducing mandatory health warning labels, automatic uprating of the minimum unit price, licensing reform, expanding early detection of liver disease and greater investment in treatment and support.

Carolyn Lochhead, recently appointed CEO of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: “While Scotland was once a world leader in tackling the harm caused by alcohol, in recent years we have fallen woefully behind. Without decisive action we will continue to see deaths, ill-health and the other negative effects of alcohol rise.

“In 2018, Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce minimum unit pricing on alcohol: and it has saved hundreds of lives. But it was always intended to be part of a package of measures. We need government to act on areas like alcohol marketing and mandatory health warnings, as well as an expansion of life saving liver screening and greater investment in alcohol support and treatment – which could be part funded by a levy on off trade retailers.

“We’re asking the next Scottish Government to call time on the half measures and get serious about tackling alcohol harm – secure in the knowledge that the policies we are proposing are backed by robust international evidence and strong public support.”

Michael Hawthorne, 51, Glasgow, person in recovery, said: “Investment in alcohol services is vital in reducing the alcohol related deaths in Scotland. This could come from the revenue generated by alcohol retailers. It just doesn’t seem right that they get to keep the extra money from minimum pricing while services are starved for cash.

“As a liver transplant recipient, I think it is important to detect liver disease early. Rolling out liver scanning across Scotland would really help, especially in rural areas, as access to services in these areas can be limited.

“I think the Scottish Government needs to listen to people with lived or living experience rather than using us to tick a box. We know the harms alcohol can cause and understand what needs to be done to get a handle on alcohol deaths.”