Minimum price on alcohol still looms

by Jeni Fraser

An Aberdeen news trader today said Scotland’s minimum pricing on alcohol will have no effect on the city’s newsagents.

Scottish retailers may soon face a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol.

Wilson's Newsagent on King Street

Beverly Birnie, who owns Wilson’s Newsagents on King Street, believes the proposals will not stop drinkers from buying alcohol.

She said: "You’ve got a higher drinking population in Scotland.

"I don’t think the budget will make any difference. If you drink you drink."

While there is some controversy over this issue in Scotland some Cabinet Ministers at Westminster think England and Wales should not scrap their minimum price.

Ministers are worried that this will encourage heavy drinkers to binge and that it goes against their public health policy.

George Osbourne will this afternoon scrap the proposed 45 pence per unit minimum pricing in England and Wales.

When David Cameron was confronted on the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions he skirted around it.

On average, Scots drink a fifth more alcohol than those south of the border.

He is facing heavy criticism over the topic of potentially ruining people’s health.

SNP MSP Bob Doris told the Scotsman: “If the reports are true it is a serious dereliction of responsibility which will cost lives south of the border.”