Hansard

It is indeed a pleasure—if not a source of rejoicing—to follow Jackson Carlaw, whose insight and wit was on characteristic display.

It is self-evident that alcohol is an integral part of Scottish life. The Scottish beer and pub sector accounts for around 5,000 pubs and more than 80 breweries, supporting more than 60,000 jobs and contributing more than £1.5 billion to the Scottish economy. That is before we take into account the white spirits industry and the fact that we are renowned across the globe for our most famous export: whisky. Our relation with alcohol is economic as well as being part of the social and cultural life of Scotland.

However, alcohol misuse is far too prevalent across our society. Despite the Scottish Government publishing its comprehensive framework for action on tackling alcohol abuse in 2009 and introducing measures in recent years to help rebalance our relationship with alcohol, the fact remains that alcohol-related harm is a major feature of Scottish society. We see that in the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in Scotland, which have quadrupled since the 1980s and, as the cabinet secretary said, in the number of alcohol-related deaths, which are 1.4 times higher than in the early 1980s. We also see it in the fact highlighted by Jenny Marra that we drink almost one fifth more than our counterparts in England and Wales.

I mentioned the economic benefits of alcohol, but there is also an economic cost and loss of productivity through sickness. Alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion each year, which is £900 for every adult in Scotland. Behind those statistics lie many human stories: heavy drinking causing premature death; alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder played out in the accident and emergency departments of our major hospitals every weekend; and family breakdown. Although the Parliament is rightly focused on legislation, strategies and policies, we should never lose sight of the fact that the issue directly affects thousands of individuals and communities across Scotland.

This week, I had the privilege of hosting an exhibition in the members’ lobby, and last evening I hosted an event in the Parliament. The theme of the exhibition and event was to highlight an innovative and important project that afforded people affected by alcohol-related harm the opportunity to document their daily lives, environment and recovery, through the use of photovoice, a technique using photographic art and narrative.

The work was a collaboration involving the University of Edinburgh, the National Galleries of Scotland, Rowan Alba and the Serenity cafe. It was supported by NHS Lothian and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems. I was delighted that you were able to support the event, too, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome to the public gallery this afternoon Dr Aisha Holloway and Dr Sarah Rhynas of the University of Edinburgh, and I thank them for bringing the voices, stories and pictures of people affected by alcohol to our Parliament.

I would like to highlight two specific areas in which the Scottish Government is taking steps to positively change our relationship with alcohol: reducing drink-driving offences, and protecting children and young people from alcohol advertising.

Following the introduction of a lower drink-driving limit in December last year, the figures released last week by Police Scotland showed that the number of drink-driving offences fell by 17 per cent between January and March this year compared with the same period last year. Fewer drink-driving offences shows that in Scotland we are leading social and legislative change in the UK on this matter, a fact that was recently reflected by the Police Federation of England and Wales, who last week issued a call for the legal drink-driving limit in England and Wales to be brought in line with Scotland.

It is important that we continue to build on those promising early figures for the rest of 2015 and beyond. Last week’s launch of the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland’s summer drink-drive campaign, “Don’t spoil summer”, will remind drivers that getting behind the wheel after even one drink is not worth the risk or the potential consequences.

Evidence shows that even one alcoholic drink before driving makes the driver three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident, and it is estimated that one in eight deaths on our roads involves drivers who are over the legal limit. The director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, reinforced that point when he stated:

“the best advice is just don’t risk it.”

Continuing to campaign on drink-driving and raising public awareness of its dangers and consequences will, I hope, serve to further reduce offences and the impact that they can have on the victims, those who are behind the wheel and their families.

Looking ahead, a culture change in our relationship with alcohol would benefit those who are currently affected by alcohol misuse and our young people and future generations. There are widespread concerns across the health sector about the impact that alcohol adverts have on our young people. Although current regulations prevent alcohol advertising around children’s television programmes, alcohol adverts are still permitted to be shown during early evening family viewing while many children are watching television.

I was struck by something that Dr Aisha Holloway said during her presentation at the event in Parliament yesterday evening. She said that alcohol is visible everywhere, and that is certainly what the research tells us. It should be of concern to us all that a survey that was published recently by Alcohol Focus Scotland highlighted the fact that 10 and 11-year-olds were more familiar with alcohol brands than with leading brands of crisps and ice cream. That is nothing short of a scandal, and it underlines the fact that children and young people are not being adequately protected from potential alcohol-related harm.

I welcome the call by our Minister for Public Health to the UK Government to ban alcohol advertising on television before the 9 pm watershed. I am also pleased that the BMA has highlighted the dangers of alcohol advertising and has supported the ban.

It is important to reinforce the message that Scotland is not an anti-alcohol nation but an anti-alcohol-abuse nation. We have a positive relationship with alcohol because of its economic value to Scotland in the jobs and industry that it supports and the enjoyment that moderate and responsible drinking can provide, but alcohol abuse remains far too prevalent and widespread in Scotland today.

We should be encouraged by the effect that legislation such as that for minimum unit pricing and the efforts to reduce the drink-driving limit have had on the improving and rebalancing of our relationship with alcohol. We should also pay tribute to the contribution of alcohol and drug partnerships across the country, as well as to the work that is undertaken by the third sector, the national health service and Police Scotland.

We can build on the progress that has been made to date. We should support families and communities who are affected by alcohol abuse across Scotland. We can bring about the positive change that we all want to see if we unite as a Parliament and a country to bring about that change.