Published: Sunday, 29th November, 2009 9:00am

Morgan reveals alcohol death toll in Dumfries & Galloway

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SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Alasdair Morgan has published figures which reveal that deaths in the region from alcohol-related causes have tripled over the past 30 years, outstripping the national average. In addition, 27% of crimes committed in Dumfries & Galloway have alcohol as a contributing factor.

Mr Morgan said:"These figures are deeply disturbing. Last year more three times as many people died of alcohol-related causes in this region than did in 1979. To make matters worse, that depressing increase is even higher than the Scottish average and the three-year average for Dumfries & Galloway is even worse.

"In 2008 2026 crimes were committed in which alcohol was a contributing factor. That's 27% of the total number of crimes for the region.

"It is evidence such as this which highlights the desperate need for a meaningful commitment to tackling Scotland's relationship with alcohol.

"I challenge my Labour colleagues in this region to look these figures in the face and justify their opposition to the SNP's proposals on minimum pricing. No-one is suggesting that this is the magic bullet to cure Scotland's tortured relationship with alcohol, but Labour have singularly failed to come up with any sensible ideas of their own.

"It is difficult to believe that this is the same party which was willing to back the smoking ban only three years ago. They could recognise the public health benefits of that. Can they explain to me why they ignore the obvious social and public health benefits of minimum pricing?"