AS GPs working in the most socio-economically deprived areas of Scotland, we deal on a daily basis with the damaging consequences of alcohol on the physical and mental health of our patients and their families, including avoidable premature deaths, long term illness and misery. The detrimental effects on children of growing up in affected households are profound and long-lasting.
The findings of a recently published Scottish study add to our frustration at the delay in implementing minimum unit pricing for alcohol.
The study uses the Scottish NHS’s excellent data linkage capabilities and focuses on the relationship between socio-economic status, alcohol use and outcomes. It demonstrates robustly that people living in disadvantaged communities are much more likely to suffer harm and premature death, compared to others consuming similar amounts of alcohol.
This means that population level interventions that reduce excess alcohol consumption are more likely than was first thought to reduce alcohol related harms in disadvantaged communities.
Critics of minimum unit pricing say it will penalise poor communities most. On the contrary, they have most to gain.
The implementation of minimum unit pricing in Scotland will bring about positive and lasting change, especially for the people and communities with whom we work.
Our call to legislators, politicians and civil servants is – make it happen.
GPs at the Deep End, Scotland: Dr Luis Alguero, Possilpark Health & Care Centre, Glasgow; Dr Roger Boyle, Springburn Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr David Blane, Pollokshaws Medical Centre, Glasgow & University of Glasgow; Dr John Budd, Edinburgh Access Practice, Edinburgh; Dr Ronnie Burns, Parkhead Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Lyndsey Cairns, Westmuir Medical Centre, Glasgow; Dr Peter Cairns, Wester Hailes Medical Practice, Edinburgh; Dr Niall Cameron, Govan Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Peter Cawston, Garscadden Burn Medical Practice, Drumchapel Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Martin Connolly, Balmore Road Surgery, Glasgow; Dr Margaret Craig, Allander Surgery, Glasgow; Dr Lynsay Crawford, Balmore Road Surgery, Glasgow; Dr Gillian Dames, Parkhead Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Elizabeth Day, Dr Day and Churches, Bridgeton Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Maria Duffy, Pollok Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Terry Johnston, The Mill Practice, Dundee; Dr Rashid Khan, Westmuir Medical Centre, Glasgow;Dr David Kerr, Castlemilk Group Practice, Glasgow; Dr Susan Langridge, Possilpark Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Susan Lyon, Garscadden Burn Medical Practice, Drumchapel Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Eva Mahler, Wester Hailes Medical Practice, Edinburgh; Dr Clair Melville, Niddrie Medical Practice, Edinburgh; Prof Stewart Mercer, University of Glasgow; Dr Pauline McAlavey, Glenmill Surgery, Glasgow; Dr Alanna McCrae, Regent Medical Practice, Greenock; Dr Robert McGonigle, Dr Gordon and Partners, Gorbals Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Michael McKenzie, Parkhead Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr John Montgomery, The David Elder Practice, Govan Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Catriona Morton, Craigmillar Medical Group, Edinburgh; Dr Anne Mullin, chair GPs at the Deep End Steering Group, Govan Health Centre, Glasgow; Dr Nora Murray-Cavanagh,Wester Hailes Medical Practice, Edinburgh; Dr Jim O'Neil, Lightburn Medical Centre, Glasgow; Dr Allison Reid, Balmore Road Surgery, Glasgow; Dr Mike Rennick, Castlemilk Group Practice, Glasgow; Dr Petra Sambale, Keppoch Medical Practice, Glasgow; Dr John Shand, Castlemilk Group Practice, Glasgow; Dr Nick Treadgold, Drs Treadgold, Duffy & Morley, Pollok Health Centre, Glasgow; Prof Graham Watt, University of Glasgow, Dr Andrea Williamson, Homeless Health Services,
Glasgow & University of Glasgow; Dr Lynsay Yeoman, Pollok Health Centre, Glasgow & University of Glasgow, c/o General Practice and Primary Care, University of Glasgow; 1 Horselethill Road, Glasgow.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel