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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Government policies lead to fall in alcohol consumption | Government policies lead to fall in alcohol consumption |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A new report has found that government policies have had a positive impact on alcohol consumption in Scotland. | A new report has found that government policies have had a positive impact on alcohol consumption in Scotland. |
| NHS Health Scotland found that a ban on multi-buy drinks promotions was among a number of successful initiatives. | NHS Health Scotland found that a ban on multi-buy drinks promotions was among a number of successful initiatives. |
| However, it warned that more needed to be done to ensure the improvements continued, including the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol. | However, it warned that more needed to be done to ensure the improvements continued, including the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol. |
| The report is the final review of the Scottish government's alcohol strategy, which was introduced in 2009. | The report is the final review of the Scottish government's alcohol strategy, which was introduced in 2009. |
| Before then, high and increasing levels of alcohol consumption were closely linked to increasing alcohol harm. | Before then, high and increasing levels of alcohol consumption were closely linked to increasing alcohol harm. |
| Studies had shown that alcohol may have caused the deaths of one in 20 Scots in 2003. | Studies had shown that alcohol may have caused the deaths of one in 20 Scots in 2003. |
| And half of Scotland's prisoners said they were drunk when they committed their offence. | And half of Scotland's prisoners said they were drunk when they committed their offence. |
| The government's "framework for action" outlined 41 steps to reduce alcohol consumption, and support families and communities. | The government's "framework for action" outlined 41 steps to reduce alcohol consumption, and support families and communities. |
| A key policy - a minimum price for alcohol - has not been introduced because it is subject to a legal challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association. | |
| Clare Beeston, from NHS Health Scotland, said the country continued to "pay a heavy price" for high levels of alcohol consumption. | Clare Beeston, from NHS Health Scotland, said the country continued to "pay a heavy price" for high levels of alcohol consumption. |
| She added: "The picture has improved but levels of alcohol-related harm remain high - on average 22 people in Scotland die every week because of alcohol." | She added: "The picture has improved but levels of alcohol-related harm remain high - on average 22 people in Scotland die every week because of alcohol." |
| Legal challenge | Legal challenge |
| She warned that the decline in alcohol consumption and harm may have slowed or stalled recently. | She warned that the decline in alcohol consumption and harm may have slowed or stalled recently. |
| "We need to continue to push for the most effective ways to reduce the amount of alcohol Scotland drinks," she said. | "We need to continue to push for the most effective ways to reduce the amount of alcohol Scotland drinks," she said. |
| "These are to reduce the affordability, availability and promotion of alcohol. | "These are to reduce the affordability, availability and promotion of alcohol. |
| "A minimum unit price for alcohol is one of the best ways to reduce drinking in the heaviest drinkers and tackle the alcohol related health inequalities." | "A minimum unit price for alcohol is one of the best ways to reduce drinking in the heaviest drinkers and tackle the alcohol related health inequalities." |
| The report highlighted the success of several parts of the strategy: | The report highlighted the success of several parts of the strategy: |
| It also found that external factors, such as a fall in disposable income, were likely to have had an impact on alcohol trends. | It also found that external factors, such as a fall in disposable income, were likely to have had an impact on alcohol trends. |
| 'Key element' | 'Key element' |
| Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: "We have seen reductions in alcohol-related harm and this is of course welcome. | Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: "We have seen reductions in alcohol-related harm and this is of course welcome. |
| "However, harm rates are still higher than they were 20 years ago and higher than in England and Wales, so now is not the time to be complacent." | "However, harm rates are still higher than they were 20 years ago and higher than in England and Wales, so now is not the time to be complacent." |
| She added: "The report also recognises that a key element of the alcohol framework - minimum unit pricing - has yet to be implemented due to a legal challenge from parts of the alcohol industry and this has impacted on the progress made. | She added: "The report also recognises that a key element of the alcohol framework - minimum unit pricing - has yet to be implemented due to a legal challenge from parts of the alcohol industry and this has impacted on the progress made. |
| "Given the link between consumption and harm, and evidence that affordability is a key driver of increased consumption, addressing price is an important element of any long-term strategy to tackle alcohol misuse and, as such, we remain committed to introducing minimum unit pricing." | "Given the link between consumption and harm, and evidence that affordability is a key driver of increased consumption, addressing price is an important element of any long-term strategy to tackle alcohol misuse and, as such, we remain committed to introducing minimum unit pricing." |