Scots off-trade hit with promotions ban

Scottish supermarkets and off-licences will be banned from offering "irresponsible" promotions on alcohol from next spring.

A host of radical new laws covering alcohol sales were passed by MSPs yesterday, but minimum pricing was rejected.

However, under the new rules it will be illegal for off-trade venues to offer deals such as "six cans for the price of four" or "three bottles of wine for £10". Pubs in Scotland are already banned from offering irresponsible promotions, under the Licensing Act.

Supermarkets and off-licences will also be banned from advertising promotions within 200 metres of the premises.

Other measures include giving councils the power to charge all pubs and shops a "social responsibility" fee to help pay for alcohol-related policing and health costs. But this measure is unlikley to take effect for at least a year.

All licensed premises - including pubs - will also have to operate a Challenge 25 scheme.

But plans to ban supermarkets giving loyalty points for alcohol and offering discount vouchers or "meal deals" including alcohol, were voted down by MSPs.

SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the steps to tackle Scotland's alcohol problems, but said she was disappointed Labour had failed to back minimum pricing.

Sturgeon said: "I am disappointed that the legislation we have passed today is not as strong as we would have liked or as it could have been. It has, undoubtedly, been diluted through the absence of minimum pricing, which would save lives and reduce crime.

"However we should not lose sight of what has been achieved. We have had a wide-ranging debate on alcohol pricing and there is now widespread recognition across the country of the need to tackle pricing - though, sadly, support was lacking in parliament today."