Scotland to clamp down on off-trade deals
16 June, 2008
Government also plans to raise legal buying age in off-trade from 18 to 21
Plans to clamp down on off-trade alcohol promotions and introduce a minimum pricing system are set to be announced by the Scottish government.
The legal age for buying alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences is also expected to rise from 18 to 21.
Under the proposals, set to be announced tomorrow by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill as part of an alcohol strategy, 18 year-olds will still be allowed to buy alcohol from pubs and clubs.
However Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the plans would send out “mixed messages”.
The idea that it is fine for people to drink in pubs and clubs but not responsibly in their own homes was “extremely confusing”, she said.
But the Scottish Licensed Trade Association supported the plans, saying strong action was needed against the off-trade.
The government's plan came about after a successful pilot scheme in Armadale, West Lothian. Off-licences in the town refused to sell alcohol to under-21s on Friday and Saturdays, during which assaults, vandalism and general complaints about young people dropped.