Portman Group attacks minimum pricing plan
The Portman Group has spoken out against the Scottish government's proposals to introduce minimum pricing and ban off-sales to under 21s.
The organisation, which acts as the social responsibility body for UK drink producers, has attacked what it refers to as "plans to demonise alcohol in Scotland".
David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, said: "The myth is that levels of drinking and alcohol misuse are worse in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. In reality, Scots drink less than people in the rest of Britain and are no more likely to be drinking harmfully. The scheme would be untargeted, unfair and likely to be ineffective.
"Problems of alcohol misuse in Scotland will not be solved by turning alcohol into a social taboo and demonising drink. There is a considerable risk that this would actually increase the appeal of alcohol to young people in particular."
Rather than raising the price of alcohol - which The Portman Group says has proven to be ineffective in other countries - the organisation believes a sustained programme of enforcement activity should be the government's priority for tackling the problem.
"It makes far more sense to enforce the current law robustly than to raise the legal purchase age and price," said Poley.
The government proposals, included in a Health Bill announced by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond last week, are subject to an ongoing consultation on alcohol misuse in the country, and if agreed upon could come into force as early as 2009.
