THE move to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland took a major step forward this morning after passing stage two at the Health and Sport Committee in the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Conservatives ensured two major concessions were made in the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, meaning the party was able to support the bill on its journey through parliament.
Following today’s progression, the bill will have a sunset clause – meaning it can be scrapped down the line if evidence shows it is not working – while additional efforts will be made to determine the legality of the move before its implementation at future junctures.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “This is a crucial moment for Scotland in battling its problems with alcohol, which are deep rooted and unacceptable.
“This process has also shown how the Scottish Conservatives can deliver for Scotland in the face of a majority SNP government.
“We remain sceptical about minimum pricing, but by securing this exit clause it means the project can be properly rolled out and evaluated at a later stage.
“If it is found not to be working, that means we can drop it without being stuck with measures that are unpopular and unworkable.”
