Heavy rain and snow have sparked travel chaos as Storm Kathleen batters large parts of Scotland.
18.03.2024 - 05:01 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Dozens of health experts and charities have signed an open letter urging MSPs to vote in favour of hiking the cost of alcohol in Scotland.
The Scottish Government announced last month its intention to raise the minimum unit price (MUP) of booze to 65p.
The joint letter has been sent to the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee as it prepares to report to on draft regulations to renew the flagship SNP policy, which is aimed at reducing harmful drinking.
MSPs must vote by the end of April to pass the regulations otherwise the policy will end.
If voted through, a 12-pack of 500ml Tennent's Lager will rise from a minimum of £12 to £15.60 and a 70cl bottle of Famous Grouse will go up to £18.20 from a £14 minimum.
Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, which coordinated the letter, said: "We have been delighted to see support from such a diverse range of organisations across the whole of Scotland and beyond.
"This clearly demonstrates that increasing MUP is not simply a concern to those working in public health but stretches right across Scottish society – very much reflecting the nature and extent of alcohol related harm.
"Most of us know someone, or perhaps several people, whose lives have been blighted by their own drinking or by that of a loved one.
"Minimum pricing has resulted in tangible benefits to Scotland’s health and wellbeing. Hundreds of lives have been saved, it has helped reduce the burden on our NHS through significantly reducing hospital admissions at a time of major strain for the health service - and has resulted in a reduction in health inequalities affecting some of our most vulnerable communities.”
"We hope that all parties will come together to continue with and uprate minimum unit pricing
Heavy rain and snow have sparked travel chaos as Storm Kathleen batters large parts of Scotland.
Police Scotland has been urged to make a public statement on Operation Branchform on the first anniversary of the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon's husband.
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of August last year, there were over 1.5 million people across Great Britain receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance. The data also indicated that over 136,200 people living in Scotland are currently receiving either £68.10 or £101.75 each week through the benefit.
Labour has warned the Scottish Government "cannot be taken seriously" on mental health after funding for services was frozen in the recent Budget despite increasing demand.
Talks between Stirling Council and the Ministry of Defence have finally paid off – with a transfer of the former MoD land at Forthside now complete.
The number of people being treated in Dumfries and Galloway’s hospitals for alcohol-related conditions fell last year.
Ayrshire's most popular baby names have been revealed.
Water bills across the country will rise by around 6 per cent from today (April 1).
BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell has faced a difficult few years after being diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Theo, 36, was left devastated at the news which came just one year after the birth of her son Jonah.
Scots have been urged to check sheds and outbuildings for a missing man who vanished on Friday night wearing a short-sleeved top despite forecasts of snow.
Scots in life-threatening situations have been urged to use their mobile phones to call 999 - after the landline telephone network crashed.
Graeme Souness had admitted he "takes no pleasure" from seeing Paul Pogba's fall from grace after the ex-Manchester United midfielder's recent ban from football.
Sewage spills hit a record high last year with a “disgusting” 21,660 sewage dumps into Scotland’s waterways - or 59 per day - new stats reveal.
Humza Yousaf must be "bold" if he is to be viewed by the public as a leader and not just a commentator on politics, an SNP veteran has said.
It’s been claimed people unable to access NHS dental treatment in Dumfries and Galloway are carrying out “DIY treatment”.
The Lord Advocate is coming under pressure to invoke powers which could immediately quash convictions of subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon IT scandal.
Some of Britain's largest energy suppliers have been told to "urgently" improve their customer service.
Humza Yousaf has been told by the mum of a sick child to get a grip of the crisis in the NHS after her son faced a three-year wait for life-changing surgery.
A Dumfries-based politician is calling for a cut on the 18 weeks waiting time for young people to receive specialist treatment for mental health services in the region.
Roy Keane has slammed Manchester United for their "criminal" defending in the first-half against Liverpool in the FA Cup.