Why are children being referred to treatment centres?
ITV Border looks at why children as young as nine in the Scottish Borders have been referred to substance treatment centres.
Alcohol price consultation
Health experts in Cumbria are backing the Governments call for a minimum price per unit for alcohol.
MSPs have voted through first stage of alcohol bill
Scotland is closer to introducing minimum pricing for alcohol after MSPs voted through first stages of bill
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Alcohol price challenge thrown out
A legal challenge to the Scottish Government's plans to introduce minimum pricing per unit of alcohol has failed.
A petition led by the Scotch Whisky Assosiation was refused at Scotland's highest civil court.
It was argued that the law breaches the UK's European Union treaty obligations because it would restrain trade.
The ruling clears the way for the introduction of the minimum pricing policy.
Under the plans, the cheapest bottle of wine would be £4.69 and a four-pack of lager would cost at least £3.52.
Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil said:
"We welcome today's favourable opinion from the Court of Session on minimum unit pricing of alcohol.
"We have always believed minimum unit pricing is the right thing to do to tackle Scotland's problematic relationship with alcohol.
"Minimum unit pricing will target cheap alcohol relative to strength that is favoured by hazardous and harmful drinkers, and which contributes to much of the alcohol-related harm we see in Scotland.
"We now look forward to being able to implement minimum unit pricing and making that transformational change in Scotland's relationship with alcohol."
Cumbrian health experts back Government plans
Health experts in Cumbria are backing the Governments call for a minimum price per unit for alcohol.
Alcohol abuse is said to account for a higher than average admissions to hospital and is responsible for more than half of all violent crimes.
Andy Burn has the full report:
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Alcohol price consultation
Health experts in Cumbria are backing the Governments call for a minimum price per unit for alcohol.
Read the full storyCumbrian health experts call for minimum pricing
Health experts in Cumbria are backing the Governments call for a minimum price per unit for alcohol.
Alcohol abuse is said to account for a higher than average admissions to hospital and is responsible for more than half of all violent crimes.
People can discuss alcohol issues
People across Cumbria will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns they have about alcohol, during a live webchat.
The chat is part of alcohol awareness week and offers people the chance to discuss issues such as the effect alcohol has, and drink driving laws.
The chat will take place between 10am and 12pm, with representatives from NHS Cumbria and Cumbria Police responding to questions.
People can join in by visiting the Cumbria Police website.
The complete webchat will be posted online afterwards.
Alcohol related incidents on the rise in Scotland
Ambulance services in Southern Scotland attend hundreds of alcohol related incidents each year. In the last three years figures have been up to 425 incidents in Dumfries and Galloway. In the Borders, over the last three years, there's been more than 220 incidents a year.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw MSP said:
"Ambulance workers face a tough enough job without alcohol being thrown in the mix as such an unnecessary ingredient.
"This poses huge challenges not only from a health point of view, but also a law and order one.
"Whether it is someone who has consumed too much meaning their stomach has to be pumped, or a violent clash ignited by a drinking binge, these are all avoidable incidents.
"We need get a handle on alcohol-related disorder, because people will look at these worsening statistics and not accept that crime is at its lowest in three decades.
"And given paramedics only record alcohol as a factor if they have time and if it is an overwhelming factor, the true picture is surely far graver than this.
"Hopefully when alcohol minimum pricing is brought in we can see a change in these kinds of statistics."
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Scottish Alcohol Bill goes through
MSPs have voted to back plans for minimum pricing. It means Scotland will become the first part of the UK to set a floor price for alcohol of 50p per unit.
Ministers say the policy - which is aimed at tackling drink fuelled violence and health problems - will be ditched after six years if it doesn't work.
Minimum pricing vote - Holyrood
MSPs will vote today on the Scottish Government's plans to bring in a mininum price for alcohol.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon wants to set a price of 50p per unit.
Ms Sturgeon said
– Nicola Sturgeon MSP"Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death. The problem affects people of all walks of life".
It is estimated that the country's alcohol problems cost £3.56billon each year MSPs voted to back the general principles of the bill at its first stage in March.
But the Labour party abstained saying minimum pricing will punish those who are less well off.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP announces minimum alcohol price
Minimum alcohol pricing is a "step in the right direction"
The police in the Borders say the announcement of a minimum price for alcohol in Scotland is a step in the right direction. But they say more needs to be done to tackle Scotland's drinking culture.
The Scottish Government want to set a minimum charge for alcohol of 50 pence per unit.