AFS: Prices increases should work

Raising the price of alcohol could help to encourage a more responsible attitude towards drinking, Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) believes.

The measure has been criticised by some groups, who say increasing the cost of alcohol will penalise responsible drinkers and will not tackle the underlying causes of alcohol misuse.

But AFS claims that price increases have been proved to work.

"Some of the measures may not be popular with everyone, for example ending cheap price deals, but price increases have successfully reduced alcohol harm in other countries and few could deny the need for radical action in Scotland," said AFS chief executive Jack Law.

He added that if alcohol misuse is to be reduced then the whole of society must be involved.

"The government, retailers, producers, health and police services all have important parts to play, but they can't change culture on their own - only people can do that and that means all of us."