Health Committee

The Alcohol Bill proposing the establishment of minimum pricing for alcohol was published on 25th November 2009.

Alongside minimum pricing for alcohol, the Bill also proposes a ban on price promotions in the off-trade, the introduction of a social responsibility fee for alcohol retailers and powers for local authorities to raise the minimum drinking age to 21.

The Bill is published on the Scottish Parliament website: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/34-AlcoholEtc/index.htm

The Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee scrutinised the Alcohol Bill during the first stage. The Committee took written and oral evidence on all aspects of the Bill. The Official Report of each evidence session is available on the Scottish Parliament website.

On 27th May, the Committee published its Stage 1 report on the Alcohol Bill. Following a debate in Parliament in which MSPs voted in support of the general principles of the Bill, the legislation will now move to the second stage of scrutiny when the Bill will be examined line by line.

Members of the Health Committee

Christine Grahame (Convener), SNP
Ross Finnie (Deputy Convener), LD
Helen Eadie, Lab
Rhoda Grant, Lab
Michael Matheson, SNP
Ian McKee, SNP
Mary Scanlon, Con
Richard Simpson, Lab