Hundreds of lives could be saved by increase in Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol
A letter to MSPs is urging them to consider increasing the price to 65p
More than 80 alcohol addiction and recovery charities are calling on the Scottish Government to increase the minimum unit pricing for alcohol to 65p.
The organisations have written a letter to MSPs ahead of a vote in Holyrood on the issue.
It was coordinated by Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) and the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), before being sent to the government’s health committee.
Chief of Alcohol Focus, Alison Douglas, said: “We have been delighted to see support for our joint letter on increasing MUP Minimum Alcohol Pricing coming from such a diverse range of organisations across the whole of Scotland and beyond.
Warnings not increasing could cost the NHS £11m
"This clearly demonstrates that increasing MUP is not simply a concern to those working in public health but stretches right across Scottish society - very much reflecting the nature and extent of alcohol related harm.
"Most of us know someone, or perhaps several people, whose lives have been blighted by their own drinking or by that of a loved one.
"Minimum pricing has resulted in tangible benefits to Scotland's health and wellbeing."
The letter argues that MUP for alcohol has saved and improved hundreds of lives in Scotland since it was introduced in 2018, and that the total number of deaths caused by alcohol alone has reduced by 13.4% since minimum pricing began.
It is believed this equates to around 156 families every year who have been spared the loss of a loved one from alcohol relate health issues.
156 families a year spared losing a loved one because of Minimum Unit Pricing
The signatories are warning a failure to increase pricing could lead to as many as 10,000 additional hospital admissions in the next five years, which would total a cost of £11m to the NHS.
As well as this, they believe around 800 lives could be saved in the same timeframe.
Ms Douglas added: “We hope that all parties will come together to continue with and uprate minimum unit pricing as part of a multi-faceted approach to changing Scotland's relationship with alcohol.
"Failure to do so would risk a reversal in the many gains we have seen from this world-leading policy."
Chairman of SHAAP, Alastair MacGilchrist said: “I am pleased to see MUP receiving such widespread support across Scotland.
"Lifelong impact" on children with a parent struggling with addiction
“This reflects the clear understanding that MUP not only needs to continue, but to set it a rate any less than 65p would result in lives concentrated in our poorest communities being unnecessarily lost."
The letter was also signed by children's charity Barnardo's, who have raised concerns that one in six Scottish children are living with a parent with an alcohol problem.
Chief executive of Barnardo’s Scotland, Martin Crewe said this can have a “lifelong impact” on children, adding: “We have engaged with the children and young people we support to gather their views on actions such as restriction of alcohol marketing towards children, and we look forward to hearing a further update from the Scottish Government on their plans."
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: "We believe the proposals, which are supported by Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, strike a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and impact on consumers.
"Alongside MUP, we will continue to invest in treatment and a wide range of other measures, including funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships which rose to £112 million in 2023-24."