Minimum alcohol pricing is nigh

How can you say what I said is totally incorrect? I said the increase in drug related deaths had continued to increase so your point that the increase had started before the introduction of MUP was already acknowledged in what I said.

Here is a link to an official document on the figures and they include a graph that shows an increase in this type of death from before 2013 as well with the rate of increase showing an increase after that date. The steepest increase pattern on the graph includes years where MUP has been in force there.

No one can say why anybody who died from drug related causes in that time decided to choose drugs over some other substance but making the cheapest alcohol more expensive must have made their decision to consume some substance less likely to include consideration of simply consuming some cheap alcohol.

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"Explain that for me if the number of drug deaths is supposed to have risen post MUP as you and others claim."

The graph shows a number of deaths that is continuing to go up after 2018 at still a very steep line indicating the number of deaths post 2018 is still going up between 2018 and 2020. I don't know a simpler way to explain this to you.

How could the spike be five years before the introduction of MUP in Scotland when there were clear reports of annual record levels of deaths being reached in 2021?

I never made the arguement that MUP was responsible for the increases as demonstrated by me saying the increase simply continued after its introduction. The figures published show the increase continues at a very steep rate after MUP came into force in Scotland. I don't see any point in me repeating my explaination any further as I think the figures are fairly self explanatory and think you should just accept that MUP does not automatically have universal positive effects.

I don't think MUP does anything to help with this trend and the figures show these deaths have continued to increase since it was introduced in Scotland so draw your own conclusions. I don't see how you read this evidence as showing MUP has helped.

I had meant to edit my post earlier and accidentally deleted it, I had links up. I have since closed those pages and I'm not bothered to go looking for them.

You can't definitively state that "the increased drug deaths in Scotland are not related to MUP".

It is probably too early to link drug deaths with MUP anyway, while it is possible for somebody to go from their first try of drugs to it causing their death in 2½ years or whatever it is, it isn't likely to be a high number, even if you include those that have turned to drugs more often than before MUP.

However, the figures we don't have are how many people are crossing the border to England and buying cheap booze, how many have turned to homemade alcohol, how many have turned to cheaper highs, and how many 14-20 year olds decided to buy weed/hash/drugs for their first time instead of alcohol because it is more expensive. Alcohol prices in the pubs in Scotland aren't as extortionate as they are here, nor do they have the same strict regulations on promotions etc.

So it won't be like for like. The introduction of MUP means we are getting it in both ends. Alcohol is going to be an expensive option for a student or person on a lower wage that is only a casual drinker. Ecstacy tablets can be got for as little as €2. Realistically most are going to pay anywhere between €4 and €10 per tablet until they build up an intolerance and buy more etc.

I have barely scratched the surface, and we won't see or know how it has effected things like that until about 5-10 years from now.

Meanwhile the 'Homeless or less wealthy alcoholics' that they are allegedly targeting with MUP ill still be drinking as much as they ever were.

MUP is a stinking heap of horse crap.

AAI shouldn't be getting a penny (more) of our taxes as they don't seem to have any answers, or even suggestions despite having millions thrown at them. Especially if the best that they can come up with entirely skips education and support and goes straight to attempting to outprice a demographic or social class away from alcohol. There are so many faults to pick out, it is hard to see where to start with it. I cannot see at all how this is supposed to be for 'our greater good'. Utter nonsense.

When can we expect to see the brexit duty free booze cruise back.

People will also be doing French booze cruises a lot more I'm guessing.

i know, i just don't get it.

it's like all of the parties are afraid to go against it and i will be raising it when candidates come calling at the next election.

I said this a few weeks ago.

SFs base is in working class and deprived areas.

Many of their people on the ground in local councilors etc would be community workers or have a background in community activism.

They see first hand what alcohol abuse can do in these working class and deprived areas.

So anyone in SF going against MUP is going to get severe pushback from those local people on the ground.

Why don't you post some of those facts here, you have failed to thus far even though I have asked you to.

Are you seriously comparing this to water charges ?

Water is essential for life, alcohol is not.

I have not engaged with any canvassers since 2011.

There is a good chance that if I did I would get a standard spiel from a generic briefing sheet.

Besides ignorance of the impacts of legislation is no defence for legislators.