Consultation sham exposed as SNP plan student off licence ban

3.06.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 6th Sep 2008

Edinburgh South Westminster candidate Fred Mackintosh and Mike Pringle MSP have joined the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the National Union of Students, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scottish Youth Parliament in slamming the SNP's plans to raise the minimum age for off license sales from 18 to 21.

Their comments came following the formal announcement of the plans by the Scottish Government on Thursday 4 September. First Minister Alex Salmond has already condemned all those opposed to the change.

Edinburgh South MSP Mike Pringle said "Yet again the myth that this is a listening Government, trying to build consensus has been exposed as a sham.

"These proposals are reactionary and misguided, designed to look good on paper rather than solve the problem. Surely Scotland should not become a place where at age eighteen you can serve in the UK's armed forces, or vote for your next government yet are not trusted to buy a bottle of wine to enjoy with friends over an evening meal.

"Nearly every other country in Europe allows 18 year old to make off license purchases yet they do not suffer from alcohol problems on an even remotely similar scale."

"It is not just a matter of age, cultural change is required, and draconian measures like these will do little to foster the real discussion necessary to make that happen."

Fred Mackintosh said "Although I agree that real action must be taken to tackle Scotland's lethal relationship with alcohol, I am fundamentally opposed to the plans to raise the drinking age for off-sales.

"It is a totally misguided move by the SNP. Introducing a presumption of guilt for an entire generation of 18 to 20 year-olds that they are irresponsible drinkers will do nothing to improve relations between government and young people. Indeed, it could do quite the reverse.

"If Scotland is to tackle its drink problem we need the overwhelming majority of young people who drink responsibly on-side to set an example to their generation."

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