Alcohol-related deaths down 
by 40% in South Lanarkshire

Mental health minister Clare Haughey claimed minimum unit pricing, introduced in 2018, was working but cautioned that it was crucial to keep monitoring the figures in future years.

The Rutherglen MSP said: “The Scottish Government’s minimum unit pricing policy is already saving lives.

“Alcohol-specific deaths have fallen 10 per cent in Scotland since the policy was introduced, and in South Lanarkshire has dropped by almost 40 per cent.

“It will be important to continually monitor the data to examine whether this positive reduction is sustained over the coming years.

“Scotland was the first country to set a minimum unit price for alcohol, and it’s clear this radical approach in tackling alcohol abuse is working.

“We are moving in the right direction, but there’s still too many families affected by the devastating impact alcohol, and there is work to be done.”