THE Scottish Government came under fire last night as critics condemned its proposals to tackle alcohol misuse as absurd, unfair, misguided and illogical.
Ministers managed to alienate the drinks industry and retailers, both of which have been working together to forge a consensual approach to changing habits.
Questions were also raised about the legality of some of the proposals. It was claimed that some of the measures would hit the drink and tourism markets, as well as rural shops, and could break competition laws.
Proposals included a minimum price for a unit of alcohol, ending cheap drink promotions and introducing alcohol-only checkouts.
One of the most contentious is to raise the minimum age for off-sales to 21 as part of the assault on binge drinking. Critics called it illogical as long as the age to enter a bar or pub remained at 18. It would mean young people who were entitled to vote, marry, drive, buy cigarettes and fight in the armed forces would not be able to drink at home.
The Royal British Legion Scotland said: “Sometimes government come up with measures without thinking them through and this seems to be a classic example.” The government is considering setting a minimum price for each unit of alcohol. At this stage, the idea is being floated only to determine support.
The figure put forward for discussion is 35p a unit. This is aimed at increasing the price of cheap, high-strength drinks such as white cider and some lagers. The cost of Tesco strong dry cider would increase by 97% and White Lightning by 71%.
The proposal would have no impact on Buckfast and alcopops, blamed for much of the antisocial behaviour.
Ministers said radical steps were needed to tackle alcohol misuse, estimated to cost £2.25billion a year in Scotland. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “Now is the time for action to defuse the health timebomb alcohol misuse is storing up for the future.”
The retail and drinks trade conceded there was a need to act but the long-awaited alcohol strategy was a blunt instrument full of unintended consequences.
Scottish Retail Consortium director Fiona Moriarty said: “It is in no one’s interests to encourage abuse, but it is only a small minority of Scots who have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.”
Benet Slay, of drinks giant Diageo Great Britain, said: “Effective solutions do not come from introducing headline-grabbing policies that penalise all adult drinkers and do not allow people to use good judgment.”
Scotch Whisky Association chief executive Gavin Hewitt said some of the measures risked undermining Scotch whisky in its home market. “A number of proposals undoubtedly cause industry concern and could have international implications.”
The country’s largest business organisation, the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, fears that ministers are happy to accept the loss of independent retailers to change the habits of a minority “at any cost”.
“Licensed rural shops, small hotels and sports clubs should not be sacrificed because of antisocial behaviour hotspots hundreds of miles away,” policy convener Andy Willox said.
The Liberal Democrats and Tories argued that existing laws should be enforced.
In London, the Office of Fair Trading took an immediate interest in the Scottish Government’s proposals, with a spokesman saying it would be in contact throughout the consultation process.
It was competition law that lay behind the failure of earlier attempts by licensing authorities in Aberdeen and Perth to use licensing law to crack down on cheap drink promotions.
A Scotland Office spokesman said: “On the face of it, licensing is devolved and therefore any decision to raise the age should be a matter for the executive. Of course, their proposals would need to be consistent with European competition law.”
The proposals are out for public consultation and could be introduced by September 2009.