EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Two-thirds of respondents to a recent Scottish survey say they oppose charging more for booze as a way to discourage binge drinking.
The results of the 1,000-person survey conducted by the polling organization ICM indicated 66 percent of Scottish citizens oppose the government's so-called "drink tax," The Scotsman reported Sunday.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison was among those who dismissed the study because it was commissioned by the Wine and Spirits Trade Association. However, Robinson said the government would welcome ideas about better ways to wage the fight against binge drinking.
"We would welcome any constructive suggestions on how we can tackle alcohol misuse," Robison said.
The Scotsman said the study, whose margin of error was not reported, found that 89 percent of female respondents and 80 percent of male respondents recognized binge drinking as a potential health concern.
