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Wednesday, 28 June 2006 10:50

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Executive urged to increase alcohol tax

Drinks with a high alcohol content should be made more expensive in order to discourage irresponsible drinking, the leader of Scotland’s doctors said yesterday.

Dr Peter Terry, the chairman of the British Medical Association in Scotland, said that the pricing of alcohol in supermarkets was "irresponsible" and urged the Executive to take steps to increase the price of high alcohol products.

He said although this kind of taxation was a reserved issue, there were other avenues that could be explored.

"I would like the Executive to explore the reserved powers issue and look at other ways of pricing alcohol that would help prevent abuse.

"I believe some kind of levy could be used on high- alcohol drinks," he said.

Dr Terry said alcohol abuse was a serious problem in Scotland, leading to ill-health and social disorder.

"It is not the use of alcohol, it is the abuse of alcohol that is of concern," he said.

"We are not out to stop people drinking, but it seems reasonable that if a drink has a higher amount of alcohol it should be more expensive."

Earlier, the BMA's conference voted for more alcohol-awareness campaigns and teaching in schools and universities and for doctors to work to try to change public attitudes.

An Executive spokesman said: "Each and every one of us has a responsibility to recognise the effects of alcohol and to drink sensibly.

He added: "The Executive could not impose any general increase in taxation or excise duty on alcohol."

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