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| Off-licence age rise 'welcomed' | Off-licence age rise 'welcomed' |
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| Increasing the age for buying drink from off-licences in Scotland from 18 to 21 would cut binge drinking among young people, it has been claimed. | Increasing the age for buying drink from off-licences in Scotland from 18 to 21 would cut binge drinking among young people, it has been claimed. |
| The comments from charity Alcohol Focus came ahead of an expected announcement by Scottish ministers. | The comments from charity Alcohol Focus came ahead of an expected announcement by Scottish ministers. |
| But retailers and student leaders said the plan, which would see 18-year-olds still being served in pubs, was "confusing" and a "blunt instrument". | But retailers and student leaders said the plan, which would see 18-year-olds still being served in pubs, was "confusing" and a "blunt instrument". |
| The move would form part of a drive against Scotland's drinking culture. | The move would form part of a drive against Scotland's drinking culture. |
| Other possible measures being announced by the Scottish Government may include an increase in the cost of alcoholic drinks and an end to cut-price alcohol deals in shops and supermarkets. | Other possible measures being announced by the Scottish Government may include an increase in the cost of alcoholic drinks and an end to cut-price alcohol deals in shops and supermarkets. |
| Supermarkets have totally failed to respond to the obviously irresponsible promotions that they have within their stores Paul WatersonScottish Licensed Trade Association Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7456580.stm">Affluent drinkers are 'in denial' | |
| Alcohol Focus chief executive Jack Law said making it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy alcohol would make a difference. | Alcohol Focus chief executive Jack Law said making it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy alcohol would make a difference. |
| "One of the problems we're trying to address is young people's binge drinking," he said. | "One of the problems we're trying to address is young people's binge drinking," he said. |
| "And one of the features of young people's binge drinking is the fact that they pre-load, that is, they buy some alcohol before they go out, and drink it before they go out for an evening. | "And one of the features of young people's binge drinking is the fact that they pre-load, that is, they buy some alcohol before they go out, and drink it before they go out for an evening. |
| "They tend to buy more and drink more, and drink it in the home, so this is one way of tackling that." | "They tend to buy more and drink more, and drink it in the home, so this is one way of tackling that." |
| But the proposal went down badly with the Scottish Retail Consortium. | But the proposal went down badly with the Scottish Retail Consortium. |
| Its director Fiona Moriarty said it was more important to educate young people to drink responsibly. | Its director Fiona Moriarty said it was more important to educate young people to drink responsibly. |
| She added: "This mixed message, that it is OK to drink in pubs and clubs, but that it is not OK to buy something to drink responsibly in your own home, is extremely confusing." | She added: "This mixed message, that it is OK to drink in pubs and clubs, but that it is not OK to buy something to drink responsibly in your own home, is extremely confusing." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Her call was echoed by James Alexander, president of NUS Scotland, who argued 18-year-olds were old enough to take responsibility. | Her call was echoed by James Alexander, president of NUS Scotland, who argued 18-year-olds were old enough to take responsibility. |
| He told BBC Scotland's Politics Show: "My advice is not to take the easy option - this is a very blunt instrument - but actually to do the very challenging thing, which is to change people's attitudes towards alcohol, to change the culture in this country around binge drinking, which is not going to change by simply changing the age. That's going to make no impact at all." | He told BBC Scotland's Politics Show: "My advice is not to take the easy option - this is a very blunt instrument - but actually to do the very challenging thing, which is to change people's attitudes towards alcohol, to change the culture in this country around binge drinking, which is not going to change by simply changing the age. That's going to make no impact at all." |
| Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association - which represents pubs and clubs - said it was time for ministers to take strong action. | Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association - which represents pubs and clubs - said it was time for ministers to take strong action. |
| "Over the last couple of years the supermarkets have totally failed to respond to the obviously irresponsible promotions that they have within their stores," he said. | "Over the last couple of years the supermarkets have totally failed to respond to the obviously irresponsible promotions that they have within their stores," he said. |
| "There's a total lack of understanding that the prices they are charging, which means alcohol is often cheaper than water, is exacerbating the problem in Scotland." | "There's a total lack of understanding that the prices they are charging, which means alcohol is often cheaper than water, is exacerbating the problem in Scotland." |
| Anti-social behaviour | Anti-social behaviour |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon promised bold proposals to deal with the issue. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon promised bold proposals to deal with the issue. |
| She told BBC Scotland: "We face a big problem. The government's not anti-alcohol. It is perfectly acceptable to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but we are concerned about alcohol misuse. | She told BBC Scotland: "We face a big problem. The government's not anti-alcohol. It is perfectly acceptable to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but we are concerned about alcohol misuse. |
| "It has an impact on crime and anti-social behaviour and it has taken a big toll on our health - we've got the fastest increasing rates of liver cirrhosis in the whole of the world, almost." | "It has an impact on crime and anti-social behaviour and it has taken a big toll on our health - we've got the fastest increasing rates of liver cirrhosis in the whole of the world, almost." |
| The government's plan will come after the success of a scheme in Armadale, West Lothian. | The government's plan will come after the success of a 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 decreased. | 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 decreased. |