The party's over as government functions could be banned from serving alcohol

Published on Tuesday 31 August 2010 18:17

RECEPTIONS hosted by Scotland's First Minister and other official government events could be all become alcohol free if Labour wins power at next year's Holyrood elections.

The party's alcohol commission has recommended that alcoholic drinks should no longer be served at official functions including Scottish Parliament and council events.

Commission head Professor Sally Brown said the move was needed to "demonstrate leadership" in tackling alcohol abuse.

A Scottish Labour source confirmed that the policy could mean no alcohol served at official receptions hosted by party leader Iain Gray if he is elected as First Minister next year.

The source said that Labour would not force councils to ban alcohol at official events, but would "encourage" the policy, as well as claiming that politicians should not be "cracking open" bottles of wine at Holyrood.

However, the policy was slammed as "ridiculous" by the Lib Dem's chief whip in the Scottish parliament Mike Rumbles.

"This is taking things too far and it makes you think what will there be next - prohibition?," he said. "It's a ridiculous suggestion that doesn't seem to take common sense into account at all."

Labour shadow health secretary Jackie Baillie backed the call to stop serving alcohol at official events.

Ms Baillie also said that Labour would raise the commission's findings when the SNP's minimum price plans come back before the Scottish Parliament this autumn.