Wine News

The Scottish drinks industry has criticised government plans to restrict the availability of alcohol to cut misuse.

A government consultation paper is proposing minimum prices per unit of alcohol, increasing the minimum age for buying alcohol in off-licences to 21, raising the minimum age of checkout staff to 18, bringing in 'alcohol only' checkouts and restricting advertising.

A law already passed and due to come into force in Scotland in September 2009 requires retailers to specify the precise location of the aisles in which alcohol will be sold. It will be illegal to sell alcohol outside these aisles.

The UK Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has condemned the proposals as 'demonising' alcohol, while stressing it supports the government's motivation to tackle the problem of alcohol abuse.

'We fundamentally disagree with the significant change to a "whole population approach"… This runs contrary to the current approach taken in the European Alcohol Strategy that the best way to tackle alcohol-related harm is to focus solutions on the groups of people who abuse alcohol....We believe this will only exacerbate Scotland's problems.'

The proposals would not be confined to north of the border, Gavin Partington of the WSTA warns.

'There is no doubt that politicians south of the border will be looking at the Scottish experience with a view to replicating it in England and Wales.'

The consultation paper is with interest groups at the moment. Partington said the proposals would be vigorously opposed by the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Beer and Pub Association.

Source: Decanter.com