YOU report on the draconian increase in the minimum unit pricing of alcohol, a policy so “respected” that we in Scotland remain the only ones blighted by it.
We should remember Scotland’s toll from alcohol-specific deaths is not unique.
The 35% increase is unprecedented and unwarranted. The increase goes straight to the coffers of supermarkets, none of it goes to government towards funding help to resolve problem drinking.
Taxation would at least achieve that, but our SNP leadership would rather stoop to this unfair assault on the poorest than demand the independence that would allow us to restructure our tax regime more fairly.
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The wealthy who can afford higher-priced brands are not affected; clearly wealth means the state doesn’t care if you have a problem. And it seems no data exists to identify the difference between rich and poor problem drinkers.
The nature of alcohol overuse is such that this increase will not stop people buying, the dependent need persists so funds will be drawn from other areas of the budget, such as for food, energy, clothing, housing etc. This merely distorts the market and creates problems in other areas, none of which is discussed in this policy.
Licensed premises will add this increase to their prices, claiming cost increase at supplier, despite the fact their bar prices already satisfy the requirements of the measure.
Some will go on booze cruises, buy in bulk and likely drink more as a result. They’ll just get through more quicker. More will take to making their own beer, wine and even spirits and end up drinking more, suggested by the fact MUP has failed to reduce deaths.
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This fundamentally unequal measure will cause many to rethink whether an independent Scotland is desirable, Unionists can claim we wouldn’t suffer this draconian measure had it not been for the Scottish Parliament, which some will view as not listening and not caring. It will see that putting a notch on their policy belt means more than representing the interests of those they are supposed to serve, not slap down in this disgusting nanny-state way.
If you’re wealthy and unaffected by this measure, cheers! Because this Scottish Parliament has just done you a favour. The supermarkets will invest the extra money they make on the diminishing sales of cheaper brands by discounting the premium brands; effectively the poor subsidising the rich. And all while this scapegoating of the poor fails to address the real reasons why people overuse substances like alcohol and drugs.
The historic poverty, the lack of opportunity, poor housing, failing education, appalling health care, the social inequity, all of which stifles aspiration to better oneself and achieve for personal, family and national economic good.
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Ordinary folks get shafted while the Scottish Government sits in its ivory-towered parliament and refuses to recognise the real reasons for the problems it continually fails to address.
Minimum pricing of alcohol where the proceeds are not returned to the state for the benefit of those affected may tick a policy box for failing health officials and politicians seeking a diversionary notch on their belt. It may even satisfy the licensed trade, who refuse to modernise and adapt to changing market circumstances, but it will do nothing to resolve the real issues that hold the nation back.
This policy will simply mask the real problems, and harm the cause of independence.
Jim Taylor
Scotland
WELL the good news is that my bottle of YES branded whisky, reserved for our independence celebrations, has grown in value by about £4 as a result of minimum unit pricing (MUP). The bad news is that I suspect the introduction of MUP means it will not be opened for yet another bit further into the future.
It will be interesting to see what effect the increase in price has on sales of alcohol in perhaps a year from now. I suspect sales will be down, much to the grief of the Scottish whisky industry and the staff and owners of Scotland’s remaining bars and restaurants.
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I also suspect it will have no measurable effect on the number of deaths from alcohol in the short, medium or possibly even the long term. Those who live with serious alcohol addictions will simply eat less, and pay the increased price for their alcohol fix.
The general public will feel they have again been short-changed by our devolved Scottish Government, adding to their current displeasure at the loss of their winter fuel payment, increased prices from energy companies and ScotRail. The real financial winners will be the large supermarkets who, although suffering decreased sales, will put the increased revenues from MUP straight into their corporate pockets.
MUP could easily be regarded as a further tax on the poor to benefit only wealthy shareholders of the major retailers.
Sandra West
Dundee
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