Commenting on remarks made by Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Steve House that alcohol has played a major role in 14 murders in the past 10 weeks, Glasgow SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin said:

“This is a wake up call for Scotland as the Police Chief highlights the dreadful consequences of an irresponsible relationship with alcohol.

“Alcohol consumption is a major factor in crime in Scotland which is why it is so frustrating that opposition parties are refusing to accept minimum pricing for alcohol as a measure that could save lives and cut crime.

"I spent a Saturday night with an ambulance crew going around Glasgow and what I saw shocked me. For the ambulance team however, this was a very normal weekend.

"I was able to see first hand the devastating effects that alcohol, if used irresponsibly, can have on people. We cannot simply sit on our hands and let this social disease eat away at our communities. Strong action must be taken and that is what the SNP government are proposing.

“The opposition do not deny that there are problems with crime and alcohol fuelled behaviour in some of our communities but are currently refusing to consider using price to cut down on dangerous levels of consumption.

“Their attempts to block minimum pricing as a tool in the fight against the problems related to alcohol are wrong. Alcohol is a serious issue for Scotland and we should have all possible tools available to us in dealing with it - including pricing.

“They should think again and consider that we need all the means possible to tackle the problems of alcohol and not have any blocked."