NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 5 November 2009a MURDO LEADS DEBATE ON ALCOHOL MINIMUM PRICING Mid-Scotland & Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Minimum Pricing of Alcohol and set out that the policy will punish responsible drinkers and harm Perthshire’s whisky industry. In the Chamber, Murdo Fraser said: “A policy of minimum pricing for alcohol is wrong because it will penalise responsible drinkers, may well be illegal under EU rules, and will cost jobs in our vital spirits industry. It is also wrong because by focussing on this single measure, the SNP Government are losing an opportunity to build a true cross-party consensus around measures that we need to take to tackle the scourge of alcohol in Scottish society. “Scottish Conservatives believe that we should be concentrating on the areas where we can all agree that action should be taken. I am sure that we can all agree that we need to have better enforcement of the current laws, particularly in restricting sales to those under age. I am sure that we can all agree we should have much better education on the adverse health effects of alcohol. I am sure that most of us, if not all, would agree that we need to clamp down on irresponsible promotions by retailers, which is why the Conservatives support a ban on retailers from selling alcohol below cost price. And we would support targeted alcohol taxation, with a rise in Excise Duty on alcopops, and super-strength beers and ciders. “Minimum pricing will do immense damage to the vital spirits industry in Scotland. The Scotch Whisky Association estimate that Scotch exports alone could fall by a sum in the region of £600million per year, as Governments across the globe sought to copy the lead taken by the Scottish Government and increased duties on whisky. “Scottish Ministers consistently argue that because Scotch Whisky is a premium product it will not be affected by minimum pricing. But that is not the view of the Scotch Whisky Association, nor of Whyte & MacKay nor of Pernod Ricard, nor of the other whisky producers, and I know who the public are more likely to believe." After the debate, Murdo Fraser added: “It is great that we have world class distilleries in Perthshire and they are a magnet for tourists to our area and important to the local tourism economy. Those in the industry are deeply concerned about the impact of minimum pricing. “Perthshire is home to some of the world’s most famous and popular whisky brands. Furthermore, Perthshire has some of Scotland’s best whisky distilleries and they are extremely important and popular tourist attractions to the local area. “Like many in the whisky industry, I believe that the SNP’s plans for minimum pricing will damage the Scotch whisky industry. This must be prevented from happening and it is time for the SNP to listen to the evidence.” ENDS   back to top of page