But studies show that nearly a quarter of a million Scots now drink more than twice the recommended limits, leading to health problems, disorder and lost economic productivity, such as absenteeism from work.

Official figures estimate that alcohol misuse costs Scotland as much as £2.25 billion per year, including £400 million to Scottish businesses. So it is in everyone's interests that problem drinking is tackled and it is welcome that the Scottish Government has started a debate.

However, in evidence to the Scottish Parliament, SCDI has raised concerns about the consequences of ministers' proposals to legislate for a minimum price for alcohol, bans on alcohol promotions, and a social responsibility levy on retailers and licensed premises.

SCDI believes that the most significant benefits would be derived from measures which specifically target action on the hard core of alcohol misusers, estimated at 7 per cent of drinkers, and preventing binge drinking by young people. A blanket minimum price would not, therefore, be the best way of reducing the impact of alcohol consumption.

SCDI is very concerned that applying a domestic minimum price will set a precedent to other countries considering the introduction of unfair import tariffs against Scotch whisky, which accounts for the vast majority of Scottish food and drink exports and is especially important to the Highland economy. It has been estimated that breaching EU and WTO rules could result in a reduction in Scotland's exports of £600 million per year.

We believe that government and the industry should work on alternatives, especially a sustained focus on problem drinkers. This must involve stronger enforcement of existing laws - including age checking, penalties for supplying alcohol to minors or to those who are drunk and the implementation of extended test purchasing - and education for individuals, from an early age, on making responsible choices on alcohol consumption.

SCDI has also questioned whether the proposals to ban alcohol promotions are anti-competitive and suggested that the government and retailers should instead develop a scheme of co-regulation to ensure responsible promotions. We are concerned too about the potential impact on the Highland tourist industry. A distillery tour, including a free dram and a reduced price bottle of whisky, brings in approximately £25 million annually to the rural economy and is already regulated by industry codes of practice on the conduct of tastings. There must be no unintended consequences for this whisky-based tourism.

Finally, we have recommended that a social responsibility levy should be better targeted on the small numbers of retailers who sell alcohol irresponsibly and channel funding to reducing disorder and to voluntary groups supporting those affected by problem drinking.

We need to get the balance right. The measures currently on the table would, SCDI believes, damage the industry and would not be the most effective way of reducing problem drinking and thereby promoting economic growth. We urge the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to consider the alternatives which we are proposing.

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