Scottish Labour calls for tax on booze sales to fund treatment services

Scottish Labour has called for a public health levy on booze sales to help fund alcohol and drug treatment services.The party said the tariff could raise money for alcohol and drug partnerships around Scotland and help tackle deaths caused by alcohol issues.Labour MSP Carol Mochan said the Scottish Government’s minimum unit pricing policy was leading to retailers bringing in an extra £40 million in revenue.

The party also pointed to the SNP cutting vital alcohol and drug treatment by £46 million in real terms over a five year period.

The Scottish Government had a previous policy of a public health supplement for large retailers who sell alcohol, but this ended in 2015.It raised £95.9 million in revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales to fund preventative measures.Deputy First Minister Shona Robison’s budget in December said the government would “explore the reintroduction” of this tax.But Labour questioned why it was abolished in the first place.Mochan said: “Alcohol abuse remains a major health hazard in Scotland, with lives being lost as a result.“Despite this, the SNP’s actions are allowing retailers to cash in on additional money from alcohol sales while frontline services are being cut.“This is nothing short of a shameful failure of those most in need and a clear example of this government’s skewed priorities.”She added: “Minimum unit pricing is no silver bullet and without properly funded drug and alcohol partnerships then more lives will be avoidably lost.“Scottish Labour is repeating its longstanding call for the implementation of a public health levy so that services and those who need them get the support that they need.”Some 11,209 deaths have been attributed to alcohol-specific causes in Scotland in the last