Diageo slates Scotland's hard-line crackdown

Diageo has slated Scotland's draconian alcohol crackdown and suggested "co-regulation" - where the industry and Government both regulate - as an alternative.

The Scottish Government proposed a "social responsibility fee" for licensed premises, bans on drinks promotions, minimum pricing and a minimum age of 21 for buying alcohol in shops under its new strategy announced in the spring.

In response to the consultation, Diageo called for "co-regulation" - the Scottish Government would set overall objectives and mandatory standards, to be upheld through self-regulation.

The self regulation system would be given "a tough set of teeth for rigorous monitoring and enforcement".

The approach would be "flexible enough to respond to any future developments, without the need for primary legislation".

Benet Slay, managing director of Diageo Great Britain, said: "Diageo is at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking, but we are disillusioned with the Scottish Government's paper and frustrated that Government is trying to place responsibility for tackling alcohol misuse on the shoulders of the drinks industry and thus failing to recognise that everyone has the responsibility - individuals, Government, civil society and industry.

"We believe the most effective approach to promoting the highest standards of responsible behaviour, across industry and for every consumer, is through a fair, transparent and effective system of co-regulation."

Here is Diageo's view on specific proposals from the Scottish Government:

- A one-size-fits-all blanket ban on promotions is "not likely to be effective in targeting action where it is needed most and would also be unfair to the responsible majority of consumers who responsibly enjoy the price benefits of promotions".

- Support for Government's intention to review current advice to parents and carers.

- Raising buying age to 21 for off-sales. "It is disproportionate and unfair, and likely to penalise the majority of responsible young adults aged 18 to 21, in order to prevent under 18s from buying off-sales alcohol, either directly or via proxies".

- Better early interventions and better education among children and young people. This "should be the priority policy for the 18-21 age group, in order to effect an enduring shift in their perceptions of alcohol consumption and give them a better understanding of the effects of alcohol misuse".

- Social responsibility fee. Opposed. "The idea of an additional charge solely on licensed premises reinforces the notion that the responsibility for alcohol misuse rests solely with those who sell and serve it, and not with the small minority who consume it to excess".

- Minimum pricing. Opposed. No evidence has been offered to support the view that it will reduce alcohol-related harm "because there is no evidence". It risks "penalising the responsible drinker".

- Separate tills for alcohol sales in shops "is unnecessary and would be ineffective. Existing regulations already provide restrictions on when and to whom alcohol can be sold. Greater enforcement is key."