Alcohol a health issue first - Lib Dems

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Oct 2007

Speaking ahead of the debate on alcohol in the Scottish Parliament, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie MSP criticised the Scottish Government for making this a justice debate, calling for alcohol abuse to be recognised first as a key social and public health issue.

Commenting, Mr Finnie said:

"Liberal Democrats do not believe that the current levels of alcohol abuse in Scotland can be solved by the criminal justice system.

"It is for that reason that we were disappointed with the Government's approach to this debate, the essential thrust of which is to place great emphasis on the role of the criminal justice system.

"It must be better to tackle the root cause of alcohol abuse before it gets to the stage where the justice system has to become involved. Liberal Democrats are vociferous supporters of health promotion, where pre-emptive action is taken to prevent illness. We believe that this principle should be applied to alcohol misuse.

"Alcohol misuse should primarily be considered as a public health issue."