Booze blitz: off-sales ban for under 21s

Published on Saturday 14 June 2008 19:43

UNDER 21s will be banned from buying alcohol at supermarkets and off licences under a controversial plan to shake-up Scotland's drink laws.

Ministers want to stop teenagers buying cheap alcohol and believe a three-year increase in the age limit will reduce the nation's chronic drink-related violence and health problems.

A major action plan on alcohol will be unveiled on Tuesday by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill who has waged a campaign against Scotland's culture of drinking since taking over the job last year.

Over-18s will still be allowed to drink in pubs and bars but ministers are said to be insistent on the need for radical reform of off-sales, arguing that "enough is enough" in the battle to bring an end to Scotland's "booze culture".

Along with the increase in the age limit, MacAskill will also propose setting minimum prices for alcohol and banning three-for-two and buy-one-get-one-free deals.

Last night, the drinks industry reacted angrily to the proposals, claiming they will "demonise and mystify" alcohol for teenagers.

The increase in the age limit to 21 for off-sales follows a pilot in the West Lothian town of Armadale where the restrictions were enforced recently.

Sources say MacAskill has also been influenced by the example of Sweden where the age limit for off-sales is 20, two years more than the bars and pubs limit.

A Government source said: "The 21 age limit will be in the document.

"Kenny has seen what they are doing in Sweden and wants to do it here as well."

MacAskill is said to be "spoiling for a fight" over the issue, pointing to recent figures which show that alcohol is costing Scotland more than 2bn a year.

But retailers and drinks bosses accuse him of having railroaded his plans through with no consideration for their own trade, or for household pockets, at a time when the cost of fuel and food are increasing.

Fiona Moriarty, of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: "We need to see the detail of what will be in the consultation document. However in relation to raising the age limit for off-sales to 21, we should be encouraging young people to have a responsible attitude to drink and this move would only do cultural damage by demonising and mystifying alcohol. It seems unfair for young people to be treated in this way."

She added: "If the Government want to go down the road to increasing the age limit for off-sales but not on-sales, it would send a mixed message to young people and to Scotland in general."

Experts warned that ministers should focus on ensuring the current age limit was properly enforced before making it even more stringent.

Ken Barrie, director for the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Studies at the University of Paisley, said: "It might be more appropriate to say we have age limits and restrictions in place at present and that we want to implement those properly."

There are also warnings that a different age limit in Scotland would see alcohol being brought up from England by under-21s.

Gavin Partington, of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, said: "You could open up the possibility of cross-border trade between England and Scotland."

Last night, the SNP Government was accused of "gross hypocrisy" as it emerged that next week they will also launch a major food and drink strategy, urging Scots to buy local produce, such as whisky.

Critics also said it was "bizarre" that ministers were considering increasing the age limit for alcohol at the same time as launching a campaign to cut the age limit for voting to 16.

However, alcohol experts and medics last night said they would back any moves to increase the price of alcohol in off-sales. It comes after supermarkets were criticised last week for having cut the price of many drinks over the last year, while food and other costs had risen.

Barrie said: "What will make the most difference is the price of alcohol. That is the thing that will change people's behaviour.

"The price of alcohol did go up in the budget but it didn't go up enough to change people's behaviour.

"You will have an overall reduction in consumption that will affect the wealthy less so then the poor get hit. But the health of the poor will improve."

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