BMA Scotland warns of 'missed opportunity' over alcohol pricing

BMA leaders have hit out at Scottish parliament MPs after they rejected plans for a minimum price on alcohol.

The move was rejected after a final debate on Scotland’s Alcohol Bill.

BMA Scotland chairman Dr Brian Keighley said: ‘This is a missed opportunity for our parliamentarians who had a real opportunity to drive forward public health policy, not just in Scotland but in the rest of the world.

‘All politicians acknowledge that price is a significant factor in the level of alcohol consumption, so it is particularly disappointing that opponents voted down minimum pricing but did not propose any credible alternative.’

The BMA published a letter earlier this week signed by 165 people from leading organisations urging politicians to ‘put party politics to one side and make a positive choice for Scotland by backing minimum pricing of alcohol.

Have you registered with us yet?

Register now to enjoy more articles and free email bulletins

Register

Already registered?

Sign in


Just published

Practice nurse with patient

Patient safety fears as one in three practice nurses near retirement

General practice is facing a nurse retirement timebomb, with more than a third of...

A&E entrance

Hospitals warn of rising flu admissions and A&E pressures

Hospitals in England have warned that the number of patients being admitted for flu...

Woman on a phone call while using a computer

How the GMC's updated Good Medical Practice applies in real life

MDU medico-legal adviser Dr Ellie Mein looks at how the GMC’s updated guidance would...

Talking General Practice logo

Podcast: Where next for the GP contract, plus Labour’s plan for neighbourhood health centres

Talking General Practice looks at what the BMA's might be looking to achieve in negotiations...

Laptop

More than 2,000 GP practices switch to registering patients online

More than 2,000 GP practices have signed up to accept patient registrations via an...

Police car

One in eight GPs forced to call police over abusive patients

One in eight GPs have had to call the police to handle an abusive patient in the...