Fresh attack on SNP's alcohol plans ahead of parliament debate

Published on Wednesday 25 June 2008 10:29

SCOTTISH Government plans to raise the minimum age for buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences came under fresh attack today.

As MSPs prepared to debate the SNP administration's strategy on alcohol misuse this afternoon, Liberal Democrats launched a petition against the proposal to outlaw off-sales to 18-21 year olds.

A student-led Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland (CARDAS) claims thousands of young people have already signed its petition against the move.

Labour called for a toughening up of the existing law against selling drink to underage customers instead.

Other measures in the government strategy, unveiled last week, include minimum pricing per unit of alcohol, and making some pubs, clubs and off-licences pay a "social responsibility fee" to help meet the cost of drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie today launched an online petition against raising the age for off-sales, describing the move as "totally misguided".

He said: "It will do nothing to improve relations between government and young people. Indeed, it could do quite the reverse."