Associate Feature: A new deal for Scotland’s Wellbeing

Scotland's Parliament has a proud history of taking bold actions to prioritize people's health, even in the face of industry resistance. From being the first UK nation to implement a smoking ban to introducing Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) despite significant challenges from the alcohol industry, Scotland has shown bravery and ambition in promoting public health.

However, it is concerning that this spirit of bravery and ambition seems to have been lost in the early days of the Scottish Government under Humza Yousaf. Recent developments surrounding the government's "new deal for business" raise alarm bells.

In recent weeks, details have emerged about the establishment of a new deal for business group, which has already had its first meeting. What is particularly worrisome is the announcement that this group will have a direct influence on the development of public health legislation, a departure from established norms in public health.

According to the Scottish Government's press release, the group's focus will include "improving the development and implementation of regulation – such as public health restrictions on advertising and promotions - and properly assessing its impact on particular sectors." While it is important to consider the concerns of the business community and consult them on the implementation of public health policy, we firmly believe, supported by established evidence from the public health community, that the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland should take precedence in a true wellbeing economy. Industry should have no role in the development of public health policy.

For instance, when it comes to tobacco, the United Nations has laid out an international framework that prohibits governments from engaging with the tobacco industry. We believe that this principle should apply to all industries producing health-harming products in the context of policy development.

Not only does this approach contradict globally accepted evidence, but it also undermines the concept of a wellbeing economy. The foundation of a healthy economy is the health of its people, and this principle is central to the idea of a Wellbeing Economy, a key aim of the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government's own Wellbeing Economy toolkit states that "the wellbeing economy approach emphasizes that economic growth should not only be sustainable and inclusive but should also serve as a means to an end – that of collective wellbeing of people and planet – rather than be considered an end in itself." However, the actions taken by the Scottish Government to work with industries producing health-harming products, such as alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food and drinks, contradict this fundamental definition.

Collaborating with these industries to support the sales of products that harm health is not a solution to improving Scotland's productivity. In fact, these products directly contribute to Scotland's poor productivity by impacting the health of its people.

Research estimates that the economic impact of alcohol, tobacco, overweight, and obesity costs the Scottish economy between £8.1 billion and £12.4 billion annually. This cost affects not only our NHS and legal system but also every business where productivity is hampered by the health consequences of health-harming products.

The years 2023 and 2024 are crucial for public health in Scotland, with commitments from the Scottish Government to a new tobacco strategy, a review of the Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol, and the introduction of regulations on price promotions for high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) food and drinks.

The conflict of interest arising from involving businesses in the development of these measures is evident. It is not in their interest to support efforts to improve people's health at the expense of their profits.

For the sake of Scotland's people and the productivity of its economy, it is crucial that the new deal for business does not mean a loss of ambition in tackling alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy food and drinks. The health of Scotland's people and the productivity of its economy should remain the top priorities.

This article is sponsored by British Heart Foundation

https://www.bhf.org.uk/