The news that alcoholic drinks will have new warning labels including the number of units of alcohol and information about safe drinking levels by the end of next year is an important step forward in tackling the increasing scourge of alcohol abuse in our society.

It can only succeed in achieving more responsible patterns of drinking alongside other measures. The announcement of a new voluntary agreement between the government and the drink manufacturers is welcome, not least because it follows the latest gloomy figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that the number of deaths directly related to alcohol has more than doubled in men and increased by 67% in women between 1993 and 2005. Charities believe there are more than 22,000 premature deaths a year in the UK due to alcohol, much higher than the number where an alcohol-linked condition is noted on the death certificate.

The figures in Scotland are consistently and considerably worse than in England and only yesterday a new study suggested that even our top athletes drink more than sportsmen from other countries. A generation ago, Scotland proudly proclaimed that new, relaxed licensing laws would lead to more civilised drinking habits. Our city streets belie that every weekend. Young men and women who have had too much to drink are either vulnerable or a danger to others, quite apart from the long-term health damage they are risking. The binge-drinking culture that has become embedded in our society shows no sign of slowing. The brakes must be applied and that can only be done by changing the culture.

The health warnings on cigarette packets have become simpler and more stark over the years. That may not correlate exactly with the decrease in smoking, but they have been one factor in ensuring that the health message is transmitted clearly. The message on alcohol has become more confused with claims made for benefits associated with moderate drinking, particularly of red wine. Clarity is needed, and information about units of alcohol is the best way to be clear about how much is too much. Calculating the recommended limit in daily rather than weekly units is a simple way to illustrate the particular dangers of bingeing. Labels with units per glass and per bottle will allow people to keep track of how much they are drinking - and they should be encouraged to do so.

The Herald has urged the Scottish Parliament to lead the way in tackling the problem by educating children about the dangers of alcohol and raising the age at which it can be purchased. We reiterate that now and suggest that the issue of price must also be tackled. If the new government at Holyrood is serious about moving forward on issues where there is cross-party consensus, then this is one which should be grasped. Of course, the brewing and distilling industries are important employers and significant exporters. That does not rule out a new, responsible understanding of alcohol, and it must start with the young.