Commenting on the report in today's Herald that Labour's opposition to minimum pricing has weakened dramatically with Labour MP Cathy Jamieson leading calls for Labour to back the policy and a senior Labour councillor also backing the initiative, Glasgow MSP Bob Doris, deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee, said: "I am pleased that prominent members in the Labour party now see the importance of setting a minimum unit price for alcohol as part of a strategy to tackle Scotland's relationship with drink.

"There is a growing consensus for such a policy, including from all four UK Chief Medical Officers, the BMA, the police, the pub trade and some influential alcohol producers.

"I hope that these latest endorsements for the policy will help Labour MSPs see the importance of such a step and back the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Bill, which will be included on our first legislative programme."