Scottish MPs reject plans to raise purchasing age

Scottish MPs have voted overwhelmingly against proposals to raise the legal purchasing age from 18 to 21 in the off-trade.

But the Scottish National Party (SNP) says it will press ahead with the move, despite MP's voting against it by 72 votes to 47 last night.

Plans to raise the legal age have been dogged by setbacks so far. Drinks organisations including the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and the Scottish Grocer's Federation (SGF) have openly criticsed the idea, and yesterday the Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland (CARDAS), a student and youth coalition, staged a protest against outside Holyrood.

In an exchange with Labour leader Iain Gray this week, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said pilot schemes had been successful and were being supported by retailers.

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