DOCTORS and health campaigners have hailed the implementation of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland as the biggest breakthrough in public health since the ban on smoking in public areas.

But even as the 50p minimum price came into force yesterday, people living in the Scottish Borders were planning booze cruises to take advantage of England’s cheaper prices. Off licenses in the North-East will no doubt be rubbing their hands together at the prospect.

Earlier this year, the region’s three police and crime commissioners joined forces to back calls for the Government to follow Scotland’s lead and put a stop to cheap drink.

According to Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, the region has the highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions in the country, with the poorest residents six-and-a-half times more likely to end up in hospital because of alcohol than the most affluent.

And research by Sheffield University estimates that in its first five years, a minimum unit of 50p would prevent at least 11,000 crimes in the region and save £66m.

With figures like this, can the Home Office afford to wait to take similar action?

Minimum unit pricing would not solve the issue on its own, but along with other measures, could be a key plank of a long-term alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Ministers are said to be monitoring the situation north of the Border as the new measure comes in, but as the weeks and months slip by, more and more lives are being ruined by frighteningly cheap, high-strength alcohol.