SNP bows to pressure for full scrutiny of proposed alcohol laws

Published on Tuesday 24 March 2009 21:03

MINISTERS yesterday bowed to opposition pressure and agreed to moves that will see full parliamentary scrutiny of plans to set a minimum price for alcohol.

New legislation to go before MSPs will also include other controversial measures to combat drink abuse, such as raising to 21 the age limit for buying alcohol in off-sales.

The Scottish Government originally planned to bring in some of the changes by amending existing regulations, a shorter parliamentary process than full-blown new legislation.

But opposition parties had accused the government of bulldozing controversial measures through parliament and threatened to block the plan.

The government conceded yesterday in a letter to opposition parties from Bruce Crawford, the parliamentary business minister. The concession will delay the changes getting on to the statute book.

Previously, ministers had wanted to have the changes in place by the end of this year, but going the full legislative route means they are unlikely to take effect until next spring.

Mr Crawford said: "Having taken account of the representations made, the government now proposes to introduce a new health bill that deals with a range of alcohol measures, including minimum price per unit of alcohol, alcohol promotions, limiting the use of marketing material, wine glass sizes, sale of alcohol to persons under 21 and the social responsibility fee.

"A new bill to take forward these provisions collectively will give this issue the prominence required and the government welcomes the fact that the proposals in the bill will be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny."

Mike Rumbles, the Scottish Liberal Democrats' chief whip said the SNP had finally seen sense.

He said: "(We] made it very clear that we would not tolerate the Scottish Government attempting to sneak through such controversial measures."

Patrick Harvie, a Green MSP, said: "Just as the public should be urged to drink responsibly, we urge ministers to legislate responsibly."