Labour's alcohol plan left in tatters

[Elaine Kirk]

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from Newsnet Scotland
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Labour's alcohol policy has been left in ruins after a health committee discovered that there was no evidence to back up recommendations put forward by the party's self styled 'Alcohol Commission'

The committee heard retired professor of education Sally Brown, who chaired the commission, also admit that the members of the commission had been hand-picked by the Labour party.

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However, a parliamentary committee heard representatives of the commission admit that there was little or no evidence behind their recommendations. They also conceded that they had no grounds for their attacks on Sheffield University’s study into minimum pricing per unit alcohol.

The committee heard representatives from the Commission admit:

there was no evidence for Labour’s proposal of floor price for alcohol
Labour’s plans for a floor price would be regressive and have the most impact on the less well off
they had “no idea” what level tax should be set at to have an impact on consumption
they had no idea how “cost” price could be assessed
that no consideration was given to the implications of cost price on Scottish manufacturing jobs in the alcohol industry
they had no grounds for their attacks on Sheffield University’s study into minimum pricing.
Labour’s proposals to ban caffeinated drinks were also questioned by representatives from Strathclyde Police and the Centre for the Study of Violence who said the main problem was irresponsible drinking overall and not down to specific drinks.

Chief Superintendent Bob Hamilton, of Strathclyde Police, told the committee that people who drink the high-caffeine tonic wine like Buckfast would just switch to something else.

He said: “They drink any type of drink and the issue for me is that they drink lots of it, whatever type it is and that’s the concern.”

Mr Hamilton added:
“We don’t attend many violent disturbances outside coffee shops,

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More info here
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[Diane]

Labour's plan left in tatters.

Let me savour the moment.

Diane