WSTA calls on Scottish government to end "nonsensical" under 21s policy

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has become the latest drinks body to hit out at plans by the Scottish government to ban sales of alcohol to under 21s.

The WSTA responded to an announcement today by first minister Alex Salmond, who confirmed that the Scottish Government will legislate to tackle alcohol misuse, by calling on it to actually enforce current laws around alcohol and end its "nonsensical policy" of raising the purchasing age.

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the WSTA, said: "Today the Scottish government demonstrated its refusal to listen to the Scottish people in pursuing its nonsensical policy of raising the purchasing age to 21. Instead of actually enforcing the laws available to tackle problems associated with alcohol misuse, the SNP has decided that headlines are more important than progress. It is by getting police out on the streets enforcing the law that we will make our communities safer."

Earlier this week Diageo also slated the consultation, saying that the Scottish government offered "no evidence" to support its view that minimum pricing will reduce alcohol related harm.

Under the consultation, minimum pricing, alcohol only checkouts in supermarkets and a social responsibility fee for retailers are all also being considered.

The Scottish Government says that the total cost of alcohol misuse to Scotland was estimated to be around £2.25 billion in 2006-07. This includes an estimated cost of £400m to Scottish industry in lost productivity and absence and a similar cost to NHS Scotland. It says that alcohol-related deaths in Scotland have more than doubled in the last 15 years and in the last decade alcohol-related attendances at Scottish hospitals have increased by almost 50%.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling of the government's legislative programme, Salmond said that he wished to tackle "Scotland's over-prevalence on alcohol, where we have a serious problem."

The proposals on alcohol are part of a Health Bill; one of 15 bills that the Scottish government plans to introduce.

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