John Gilroy (Labour)

Moreover, his idea of introducing café bars certainly is worth exploring. However, matters will not change overnight but in incremental steps over a long journey. The step proposed in this motion constitutes the first step in that journey. If one approaches the issue by suggesting that minimum pricing alone will solve the problem, it will not. However, it will solve it as part of a package of other measures that could be introduced. I refer to an interesting study carried out by the University of Sheffield on minimum pricing in Scotland. While the authors added the important proviso that the findings were specific to Scotland, the study found that minimum pricing is effective, but only when prices are substantially increased. Moreover, the more they are increased, the more effective it becomes. It also showed that drinkers sometimes switch from one drink to another to compensate for this. In addition, it showed that reductions occurred in all harm related areas. Rates of alcohol related crime and absenteeism from work have fallen, as has the rate of health related harm. Moreover, there is a corresponding saving in health care costs. It certainly looks like a promising area to explore and I would welcome it.