News and Press

SHAAP welcomes new framework for action to tackle alcohol harm in Scotland

4 Mar 2009

Dr Bruce Ritson, Chair of SHAAP, said of the new framework for action launched on Monday 2nd March:

“What’s been happening with alcohol affects us all and we can no longer afford to ignore the harm that alcohol causes to individuals, families and communities across Scotland. Alcohol-related hospital admissions are at an all-time high – up by almost 50% in the last ten years. With one of the highest cirrhosis death rates in the world, the measures announced today offer the best opportunity we have to begin to reverse these trends.

“Controls on the price and availability of alcohol are known to be the most effective way to reduce harm so we would expect these measures to save lives in Scotland. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve Scotland’s public health for a generation and we would ask those who oppose the proposals to think carefully about what kind of future we face if alcohol related harm continues to rise. Harm caused by alcohol is our biggest public health challenge but these measures present our biggest opportunity. I hope we have the courage to meet the challenge as the health and well-being of the people of Scotland will depend on it.”

For full details of the proposals go to the Scottish Government website.