Alcohol related incidents are on the rise Credit: ITV Border
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."
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.
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
"Too many Scots are drinking themselves to death. The problem affects people of all walks of life".
– Nicola Sturgeon MSP
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.
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.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to Glasgow Royal Infirmary Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has she announced that the Scottish Government wants to set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol. They say it will save 500 lives a year.
Russell Brown has warned the Home Secretary, Theresa May, her plans to put a minimum price on a unit of alcohol may yet be ‘laughed at’ by young drinkers. The Dumfries and Galloway MP said alcohol abuse was a big national problem but a variety of measures were needed to get to grips with it.
