Calls have been made to increase the minimum price of alcohol in Scotland by 15p to 65 per unit.
Lid Dems leader Alex-Cole Hamilton is also urging the Scottish Government to link any hike to inflation to ensure "the value of the policy does not decrease over time", reports the Daily Record.
The plea has been made at the start of Alcohol Awareness Week which runs from November 15 to 21.
On May 1, the country marked three years since minimum unit pricing was introduced.
Scotland was the first country in the world to bring in the public health measure, but since 2018 the unit price has not changed from its initial level, which was set at 50p.
Cole-Hamilton is calling on Nicola Sturgeon to act in order to stop the number of deaths linked to alcohol abuse.
He said: "Alcohol misuse can wreck lives. Even today we are seeing an average of 20 people per week die due to alcohol misuse. That's terrible news for individuals, families and communities.
“Experts have suggested that raising the minimum unit price to 65p in line with the original ambition of the policy would cut alcohol misuse and reduce the pressure on our health and justice systems.
"Once this step has been taken Scottish Liberal Democrats are keen to see the minimum unit price of alcohol linked to inflation so that the value of the policy does not decrease over time.
“This would send a clear signal about our resolve to win the battle against the bottle. Nicola Sturgeon should come back to Parliament with proposals to take this forward."
Cole-Hamilton is calling on the First Minister to act in order to stop the number of deaths linked to alcohol abuse.
He said: "Alcohol misuse can wreck lives. Even today we are seeing an average of 20 people per week die due to alcohol misuse. That's terrible news for individuals, families and communities.
“Experts have suggested that raising the minimum unit price to 65p in line with the original ambition of the policy would cut alcohol misuse and reduce the pressure on our health and justice systems.
"Once this step has been taken Scottish Liberal Democrats are keen to see the minimum unit price of alcohol linked to inflation so that the value of the policy does not decrease over time.
“This would send a clear signal about our resolve to win the battle against the bottle. Nicola Sturgeon should come back to Parliament with proposals to take this forward."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We continue to keep the level of the MUP under review, and will consider all relevant emerging evidence.
"A range of factors will need to be taken into account including the impact of the pandemic on the economy, people’s incomes and alcohol affordability."
