To the Scotch Whisky Association: Stop fighting (UK) minimum pricing 

It is now one year to the day when minimum unit pricing should have been introduced in Scotland. Yet still we wait for this vital public health policy, supported by the Scottish Parliament, to come into force. It has been delayed because the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is fighting its implementation every step of the way. Why? Because they know it will work. 

The SWA has mirrored the tactics of the tobacco industry in delaying life-saving legislation. They oppose any measure that might affect their sizeable profits, no matter the obvious benefits to people’s health. By taking this legal action, they are undermining the united view of the Scottish Parliament, ignoring the democratic process and costing taxpayers thousands of pounds in legal bills. 

Despite recent welcome improvements, alcohol is a huge health and social problem for Scotland. Getting rid of ultra-cheap alcohol through minimum pricing is a crucial first step in turning things round and one which will make a genuine, lasting difference to health, crime and society. Minimum pricing will cut alcohol-related hospital admissions and save lives. We cannot afford to delay any longer. 

This is an appeal to the Scotch Whisky Association to immediately drop their legal challenge and bow to the will of the Scottish Parliament. It’s the right thing to do. 

Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland Dr Brian Keighley, Chair, BMA (Scotland) Dr Peter Rice, Chair, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance Dr Mac Armstrong CB, Chair of Alcohol Focus Scotland and former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Christine Duncan, Chief Executive, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs Katherine Brown, Director, Institute of Alcohol Studies Professor Mark Bellis, UK Faculty of Public Health Dr Nick Sheron, University of Southampton Professor Nick Heather, Emeritus Professor of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies, Northumbria University Eric Appleby, Chief Executive, Alcohol Concern Dr Gary Tanner, Consultant Psychologist (Addictions), NHS Lanarkshire Colin Shevills, Director, Balance the North East Alcohol Office Dr Jim McCambridge, Senior Lecturer in Behaviour Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Professor Linda Bauld, Director of the Institute of Social Marketing, University of Stirling and Deputy Director, UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies Andrew Langford, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust Craig McNally, Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Alcohol & Drugs), NHS Highland Catherine Chiang, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Dr Margaret Somerville, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Highland Jackie Brock, Chief Executive, Children in Scotland Suzanne Costello, Chief Executive, Alcohol Action Ireland Baroness Hollins, Chair, BMA UK Board of Science

MINIMUM PRICING: GREEN MSP WELCOMES CHALLENGE TO SWA 

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today welcomed an open letter from senior doctors and health charities challenging the Scotch Whisky Association’s delaying of minimum pricing for alcohol. 

Greens were the only opposition MSPs to support the measure in the 2007-11 parliament and again voted for it when it was passed two years ago but it has been delayed by a legal challenge from the SWA. A judge ruled against the SWA but the lobby group is appealing the decision. 

Doctors and charities accuse the SWA of mirroring the tactics of the tobacco industry in delaying life-saving legislation. 

Patrick Harvie MSP said: 

“Charities and doctors are right to challenge the Scotch Whisky Association, and we can only hope public pressure mounts. Many of these companies are vastly profitable multinationals, not traditional independent distillers, and they seem all too willing to risk public health for bigger profits. 

“The situation is another sad example of how corporate interests stifle democracy, from the historic tactics of big tobacco to the childish antics of Donald Trump. Two years on from minimum pricing being passed by parliament, it’s clearer than ever that we need to challenge the dominance of the drinks industry by big firms whose focus will always be profit. They overshadow the welcome growth of small, independent brewers and distillers who put quality ahead of volume sales, and genuinely benefit our local communities.” 

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