Alcohol Abuse Legislation 0, Political Posturing 1.

This is the pits.
It really is.

Comes the news in the 'NorthBriton' today that the opposition parties in the Holyrood business bureau have insisted that the plan for minimum pricing on alcohol is to be put back one year.

Evidently, the government's plan to push this through as part of the 2005 Licensing Act has miffed the oppo parties, who had relished the opportunity for a bit of showboating.

So, they are forcing that this measure go through as primary legislation, which delays the whole shebang and they get to say their piece.

In the meantime, the boozing, the drink fuelled violence, the abuse, the drunkenness in the streets - why, that goes on as before.

Mike Rumbles lets the cat well and truly out of the bag with his fatuous remarks, which show exactly where his priorities lie.
"It is ironic that it is Scottish Nationalists that are wilfully disregarding our national parliament and a key national industry".

At least Labour's Michael McMahon seems to approve of the planned measures, but still cannot bring himself to support the SNP.

The Tories have little to say, but at least the CBI, the Wine and Trade Association, Scottish Retail Consortium, and the Scottish Whisky Association have got exactly what they wanted from the unionist group at Holyrood.

Last weekend Iain Gray was prattling about his vision for a 'better Scotland'.
What's the betting that, having blocked this measure, he starts ranting about the lack of legislation on alcohol in a few weeks.

If you get the impression that I'm a bit irritated by this, you'd be right.
It really and truly defies belief that this pathetic dog in the manger posturing by the opposition parties will result in more disrupted and chaotic lives in Scotland.

Again, as many times before, these charmers are putting their political egos ahead of the security, and health, of members of the public.