The Scottish Government announced last month its intention to raise the minimum unit price (MUP) of booze to 65p.
Dozens of health experts and charities have signed an open letter urging MSPs to vote in favour of hiking the cost of alcohol in Scotland.
Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, which coordinated the letter, said: "We have been delighted to see support from such a diverse range of organisations across the whole of Scotland and beyond. "Minimum pricing has resulted in tangible benefits to Scotland’s health and wellbeing. Hundreds of lives have been saved, it has helped reduce the burden on our NHS through significantly reducing hospital admissions at a time of major strain for the health service - and has resulted in a reduction in health inequalities affecting some of our most vulnerable communities.”
Dr Alastair MacGilchrist, chair of Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems , said: "Alcohol harm affects all aspects of Scottish life and healthcare professionals see it amongst patients every day. The amount of alcohol harm is closely linked to how affordable it is, so it is no surprise that MUP has reduced that harm.
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