Lyndsay Moss: Sobering look at an old problem

Published on Wednesday 4 February 2009 21:02

ALCOHOL is firmly back in the limelight as the Scottish Government prepares to unveil its radical plans to tackle the nation's drinking problems.

With minimum pricing of alcohol products and an increase in the age limit for buying alcohol on the cards, experts are also keen to tackle the problem at its roots – young people.

Last week, England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, advised parents not to give any alcohol at all to under-15s, due to the effects on the developing brain. While this is purely advice and will not become law, some labelled it a "knee-jerk reaction" that would not tackle the real causes of alcohol misuse and the difficult childhoods that can lead many into drinking.

One education specialist told me: "Focusing on this one issue misses the bigger picture that there are problems with childhood in the UK today.

"Trying to stop children being given alcohol under the age of 15 is not going to solve all our alcohol problems so easily."

The expert went on: "When we see problems such as alcohol misuse, we need to look at the society in which these children are living and the kind of childhoods they are having."

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has drawn attention to the influence of alcohol sponsorship on young people. New guidelines mean retailers and drinks companies will not be able to sponsor events where the majority of people taking part will be under the age of 18.

But some questioned what effect this would have, given that alcohol companies tend not to sponsor school plays or similar events with a young audience. Indeed, the advice will not even cover events such as SPL football matches, where a large part of the audience is made up of under-18s.

One campaigner also pointed out that, even in a press release highlighting the responsible attitude of the alcohol industry, one company could not help but plug its own products.

In that release, George Kyle, of Inbev UK, said: "As a founding member of the Scottish Government and Alcohol Industry Partnership, Tennent's recognises its responsibilities and welcomes the new commercial sponsorship guidelines which reflect our own high standards as Scotland's number one alcohol brand."