Scottish Government's alcohol bill dealt another blow

Published on Wednesday 29 September 2010 15:17

Proposals to give licensing boards the power to ban alcohol sales to under-21s in Scotland were overturned today.

The decision strikes out another section of the Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill, which was drawn up to change the country's drink problem.

MSPs on Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee voted to remove the section giving boards the power to raise the age for off-sales from 18 to 21.

Labour committee member Dr Richard Simpson, backed by Liberal Democrat and Tory members, argued that the plan discriminated against young people.

Dr Simpson said: "It's unfair if young people are only able to consume alcohol in a pub or restaurant but cannot buy a bottle of wine to have

at home while watching the television.

"We're all aware of binge drinking being a problem for some young people but this can't be tackled by discriminating against all young people, even in a specific area."

Dr Simpson raised his concern that teenagers will travel to neighbouring areas without restrictions, moving the problem somewhere else. Existing laws should be better used to tackle the issue, he said.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, who was backed by the committee's three SNP members, conceded that the policy will not get through.

In a last ditch appeal, she said more than 2,000 under-20s were discharged from hospital with an alcohol-related diagnosis in 2007-08.

Ms Sturgeon added: "I think that's a serious issue. I'm not suggesting this initiative will solve that problem outright, but I do believe it's an important part of the package.

"Placing a duty on licensing boards to consider if there is any detrimental impact on off-sales of alcohol to people under 21 is an important part of the package."

The policy was defeated by five votes to three.