I AGREE with Karen Betts, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association, that the problems Scotland has with alcohol abuse "are complex and deserve multi-faceted responses" (Letters, July 13), however I strongly disagree with her when she rejects minimum pricing of alcohol as one of the responses which could help limit the disastrous effects of persistent and excessive abuse of alcohol in too many homes and communities across Scotland.

Apart from causing damage to the health of the individual, and misery to their families, alcohol abuse is considered a factor in around 75 per cent of serious crimes including murder, rape and domestic violence. Minimum pricing is not the only solution, but it could be a very significant part of the solution as is made clear in the letter (July 12) signed by the impressive number of doctors, who everyday see, and have to cope with, the terrible effects of alcohol abuse, and who have asked for the implementation of minimum pricing of alcohol, stating "critics of minimum unit pricing say it will penalise poor communities most. On the contrary they have most to gain".

For the Scotch whisky industry to continue to argue against the advice of so many health professionals smacks of a cynical disregard for the nation's health and safety, and a selfish pursuit of profit at any cost.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.