Doctors organisations have sought to rally support for the minimum pricing of alcohol. Peter Rice, one of Scotland’s leading medical professionals working in the field of alcohol misuse, spoke on behalf of the BMA when he said minimum pricing would tackle consumption on a number of levels. Dr Rice is also chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland.
He said it would hit the heaviest drinkers hardest, and help dissuade younger people from buying alcohol. Dr Rice told the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee last week that minimum pricing could have a greater effect on underage drinking than raising the age at which people could buy alcohol.  He said there was evidence that under-18s tended to obtain alcohol via third-party agents – usually 18 to 21-year-olds — and that they were influenced by price.

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