The Scottish Government intends to make those who profit from the sale of alcohol pay to help those who fall victim to it.

The Scottish Government intends to make those who profit from the sale of alcohol pay to help those who fall victim to it.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill issued the message that "the polluter must pay" when he visited a "designated place" scheme in Aberdeen, one of only two in Scotland where people found drunk and incapable are taken rather than a police cell or hospital.

From there they are offered a range of support to help them overcome their problems including the opportunity to live in a residential hostel attached.

Mr MacAskill said he was impressed with the facilities, which have been open for 24 years, and he thought there was scope for them to be replicated elsewhere.

Albyn House struggles for finance to cope with the 600 to 700 referrals it receives every year and Mr Macaskill said he wanted to see the drinks industry bear some of the cost of supporting ventures like it.

"The wide-scale abuse of alcohol in Scotland should not be a problem for the taxpayer, the police or accident and emergency departments to bear," he said.

"We have to make sure there is funding available and that comes back to the fact those who have the right to sell alcohol and make profits from it have to pay some of the costs for the responsibilities that go with it. It applies in the environment and it should apply with alcohol."

Diane Annan, 43, a mother of five, told The Herald how Albyn House had transformed her life since she was taken there, drunk and incapable.

"I have picked up the relationships with my children and I have a better understanding of alcoholism, I have learned not to hide and how to cope with the outside world and to accept that it is a problem I don't have to be ashamed about."