Achi news desk-
Drug and alcohol policy minister Christina McKelvie said the 30% increase would help save more lives.
He told Holyrood that voting in favor of the increase would “show that Scotland continues to lead the world, with policies to improve people’s health”.
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Campaigners at Alcohol Focus Scotland welcomed the vote, with CEO Alison Douglas saying: “Well done Holyrood. You have chosen to stand up for people’s right to health despite Big Alcohol’s best efforts once again to remove this policy.”
He added: “Raising the minimum unit price to 65p per unit will save hundreds of lives and reduce the demand on our NHS.
“This will improve the lives of not only the people who drink but those around them, whose health and well-being can be affected.
“Crucially, it will reduce the likelihood of future generations developing alcohol problems.”
His comments came after Conservative health spokesman in Scotland Dr Sandesh Gulhane spoke out against the increase, which is due to come into force at the end of September.
The Tories argued that increasing the minimum unit price “disproportionately penalizes responsible drinkers on low incomes and those who are dependent on alcohol”.
Dr Gulhane insisted: “The minimum unit price is not a slam dunk success or a magic bullet as the SNP believes.
“Because alcohol-related deaths are not decreasing by any credible measure.”
Although he said addiction was a “complex” problem that “required a multi-pronged approach”, he claimed the Scottish Government’s only approach was to “raise the price” charged on alcohol.
The Tories insisted: “They have their silver bullet, and that silver bullet is empty.
“Because what is clear is that more people are suffering alcohol-related deaths now than in 2018, when MUP was introduced.”
But Ms McKelvie insisted that research shows that the policy has reduced deaths by 13.4%, which means that 156 lives a year have been saved.
With Scotland continuing to “experience significant levels of alcohol harm”, he added that increasing the minimum unit price level to 65p would “save additional lives”.
The minister said that although deaths caused specifically by alcohol had increased – with official figures showing a rise to 1,276 in 2022 – there would have been “an even greater number” of such deaths had it not been for the policy has been in place.
Ms McKelvie said: “As we have made clear, the aim of the policy is to reduce alcohol-related harm by reducing alcohol consumption at a population level, with a particular focus on targeting people who drinking at dangerous and harmful levels.
“We believe that the proposals ensure a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and the effect on consumers.
“Evidence suggests that there has been no significant impact on business and industry in general but we will continue to monitor this.”
