TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM UNIT PRICE.

EMBARGO: Thursday 26 August 2021, 00.01 hrs

TIME TO RAISE MINIMUM UNIT PRICING TO TACKLE ALCOHOL DEATHS SAYS MACASKILL

Former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP has written to the Health Secretary Humza Yousaf calling for the Scottish Government to raise Minimum Unit Pricing of alcohol from 50p per unit to 65p per unit following the publication last week of statistics which show that alcohol specific deaths are now at their highest level since 2008.    The figures which show alcohol specific deaths rising by 17% to 1,190 last year, up from 1,020 in 2019 require the Scottish Government to “redouble its efforts” and take urgent action to prevent this becoming a public health crisis according to Mr MacAskill.  In a statement  Mr MacAskill said:

“The Scottish Government must take bold action to tackle this growing scourge of alcohol deaths in Scotland.  Minimum Unit Pricing was meant to mean fewer deaths, fewer admissions to hospital and a reduction in crime.  If it is to work effectively it has to be set at the right level.

“That is why I am calling on the Health Secretary to take immediate steps to implement an increase in the level of Minimum Unit Pricing from 50p per unit to 65p per unit in line with what has been called for by SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems) and the health and other professionals who work at the front line of tackling alcohol abuse. 

“Warm words and yet another review will simply not cut it.  We cannot simply wait for the evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing by Public Health Scotland which will not report until 2023.  We need urgent action and we need it now.

“The Scottish Government must do as the Republic of Ireland have done and set Minimum Unit Pricing at an appropriate level.  Not acting would be a failure of leadership on the part of the Scottish Government and I urge the Health Secretary to take this vital step to save lives.”

ENDS

25 August 2021

Mr Humza Yousaf MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Scottish Government

St Andrew’s House

Regent Road

EDINBURGH

EH1 3DG

Dear Cabinet Secretary

Alcohol Deaths – Minimum Unit Pricing

I write following the publication of the latest figures which show a worrying increase in the number of alcohol specific deaths and to urge you to take the urgent action necessary to prevent this becoming a public health crisis.

The increase in alcohol specific deaths by 17% over the last year to 1,190 in 2020, up from 1,020 in 2019, its highest level since 2008, requires the Scottish Government to redouble its efforts.

I was proud to serve in the administration which introduced Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in order to reduce the impact of alcohol related harm.  As the then Cabinet Secretary for Justice I understood only too well the positive impact this change would have on reducing alcohol related crime in our society, as well as reducing alcohol related deaths and hospital admissions.  However the success of MUP depended on it being set at the right level.  The impact of price inflation, in the eight years since Parliament passed the legislation, mean that it is no longer as effective as it was intended to be.

There is now a crying need to set Minimum Unit Pricing at an appropriate level.  The failure to do so will only undermine our efforts to reduce alcohol related harm.

That is why I am calling on you to take immediate steps to implement an increase in the level of Minimum Unit Pricing from 50p per unit to 65p per unit as called for by SHAAP (Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems).  

I urge you to take the action which all of the evidence to date shows will save lives and not simply wait for the final outcome of the evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing by Public Health Scotland, which will not report until 2023.

I hope that you will show the leadership which is now required, as the Republic of Ireland is doing, in setting MUP at an appropriate level, to allow further progress to be made in reducing alcohol related harm and in particular alcohol specific deaths.

Yours sincerely

Kenny MacAskill MP

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