PARLIAMENT REJECTS SNP BID TO BAN UNDER-21s FROM OFF-LICENCES

Time called on plan to curb young drinkers

By Cameron Brooks

Published:

The Scottish Government’s proposal to ban under-21s from buying drink from off-licences suffered a major setback last night when it was defeated at Holyrood.

MSPs backed a Conservative motion to scrap the plan by 72-47.

Deputy Tory leader Murdo Fraser, who led a debate on the issue in parliament, said the decision sent a “strong message” to the SNP that its “flawed, discriminatory” scheme had no chance of becoming law.

In a letter sent to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill immediately after the vote, he wrote: “It is now clear beyond doubt that the government’s proposals have no prospect of attracting parliamentary support.

“Given the first minister’s comments about respect for parliament, will you now confirm that the government’s plans to increase the drinking age will not now proceed further?”

Mr MacAskill said he was disappointed with the result of the debate on the Tory motion but the government was determined to press ahead with its “bold” plans to ban under-21s from buying alcohol in off-licences.

Other measures being considered to tackle Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol include introducing minimum pricing, outlawing “irresponsible” promotions and introducing a social-responsibility fee for licence-holders.

Mr MacAskill said: “Alcohol misuse is costing Scotland more than £2.25billion a year. This is causing problems in our health service and criminal justice system and undermining our economy.

“This government will not stand by and do nothing. We owe it to future generations.”

Plans to increase the purchase age for alcohol were proposed following several pilot schemes, including a six-month trial at Stenhousemuir, Falkirk, that produced a 40% reduction in antisocial behaviour on Friday and Saturday nights.

Breaches of the peace also fell by 40%, while minor assaults there were down by 30%.

A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: “We believe the proposal to raise the age of purchase in off-licences and supermarkets is a very strong proposal.

“It is based on a number of very successful pilots and ministers believe it was important to look at the success of these pilots and to consult on rolling out the very considerable benefits across the rest of Scotland.”

The vote was welcomed by opposition MSPs, the Scottish Youth Parliament, the National Union of Students Scotland and the Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland (Cardas), which campaigned against the proposal outside Holyrood yesterday.

The Federation of Student Nationalists, the SNP’s youth wing, is opposed to the move.

The Scottish Grocers’ Federation and Benet Slay, managing director of drinks giant Diageo, which has a plant near Elgin, also welcomed the result of yesterday’s vote.

NUS Scotland president Gurjit Singh said: “From the beginning, we have said that this plan would be discriminatory and unworkable.

“We need to change people’s attitudes and perceptions of alcohol as a dangerous and serious drug that can cause devastating effects on people’s lives.”

Tom Spencer, president of Stirling University Students Association, said the Scottish Government should be encouraging greater use of existing powers to prosecute under-age drinkers and those who supply them.

Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said: “Under the SNP’s plans, some young people won’t be able to buy a bottle but they can have a ballot and a gun to fight for their country.”

Labour leader Iain Gray said: “Labour wants an effective, mandatory proof-of-age scheme, tougher action on agents who buy drink for under-18s and the removal of licences from those found selling to under-18s.”

The party wants to see retailers who sell alcohol to someone who is under-age, or adults who buy alcohol for children, named and shamed.

Mr Gray’s comments were echoed by Mr Slay, who said: “What is needed is tougher enforcement of the existing laws rather than creating new ones simply for the off-trade.”

Connie Bennett, vice-chairwoman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, urged the Scottish Government to get young people involved in the debate and regard them as part of the solution to the problem.

Cardas co-ordinator Tom French said: “We congratulate the Scottish Parliament for seeing sense and overwhelmingly voting to scrap this daft, discriminatory and unpopular proposal.”