'Collective effort' needed to tackle alcohol abuse

Published on Thursday 9 April 2009 11:18

A "COLLECTIVE effort" was needed to tackle Scotland's drink problem, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said today.

And he stressed he was committed to working "across the drinks industry" to try to achieve that.

The Scottish Government has put forward a series of measures to crack down on alcohol abuse, which costs the country 2.25 billion a year.

These include plans for minimum pricing and a duty on licensing boards to consider raising the purchase age to 21 in off-sales.

Yesterday on a visit to a whisky distillery Mr MacAskill insisted plans to bring in a minimum price for alcohol would not affect the Scotch whisky industry.

And speaking ahead of the visit to a brewery in Glasgow today Mr MacAskill said: "Those who sell quality products at responsible prices have nothing to fear from what we propose."

The minister, who is visiting the Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow, where Tennent's lager is produced, said the drinks industry in Scotland was a "major employer and significant exporter of goods across the world".

He went on: "I remain committed to working across the drinks industry to ensure that we secure a common goal of improving our relationship with alcohol, and achieving a safer, stronger and healthier Scotland.

"That requires a collective effort, involving education, prevention and legislation. Our Framework for Action recognises that alcohol is not an ordinary commodity like bread and milk and I'm glad that this is recognised by many in the drinks industry."

Mike Lees, managing director of Tennent's, said: "We're delighted that Kenny MacAskill recognises the positive and significant social and economic contributions that brewing and Tennent's makes in Scotland.

"We look forward to showcasing our Wellpark brewery and our staff there whose employment relies on a healthy Scottish brewing sector."

But Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown claimed there was a "lack of detail available about the SNP's controversial alcohol proposals".

And he said: "The Justice Secretary's charm offensive will only go so far when neither the industry nor the public have any substantive detail on what is being proposed by the Scottish Government."

Mr Brown went on: "The call for a collective effort to tackle the scourge of alcohol is all well and good, but it must be based on the right policies from the start.

"Liberal Democrats want to work productively with the Scottish Government on sensible and realistic measures to tackle the country's relationship with alcohol."