Kirk backs SNP alcohol plan

SNP MSP Michael Matheson has welcomed the support of the Church of Scotland for the Scottish Government's minimum pricing proposals. Writing the Scotsman newspaper, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Bill Hewitt, said:

"The costs of alcohol abuse is not just financial but gnaws at the very souls of families who have to cope with its effects. It doesn't just affect the drinker, it affects everyone. So we need to change our collective attitude to alcohol. That is why the Church of Scotland is supporting minimum pricing by asking our membership to write to drinks producers to say that they should work with the government on this issue."

Commenting, Mr Matheson said:

"This is indeed very welcome news. The Kirk joins a host of organisations and producers who recongise the need to change Scotland’s relationship with alcohol through sensible and proven means.

"The 3,000 deaths and 42,000 hospital stays linked to alcohol annually are a massive burden on our public services and create misery for families across the country. Action must be taken to end this scourge.

"Minimum pricing is a workable approach to tackling the problem and has drawn support from all quarters. Now, the opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament must stop playing politics with the nation’s health and back these proposals."

The Rt Rev Bill Hewitt's comments can be found here: http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/The-Rt--Rev-Bill.6028444.jp