Hansard

The Convener: Lab

We will now consider PE1187 and PE1191 together as they deal with the same subject. PE1187, by Greig Muir, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scott...

Greig Muir:

I lodged my petition because I thought it was necessary to show the anger that exists about the Government's proposal to increase the age limit for alcohol o...

The Convener: Lab

I invite Tom French to comment on his petition.

Tom French (Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland):

I represent the coalition against raising the drinking age in Scotland, which is a coalition of youth and student organisations, including the National Union...

The Convener: Lab

Tom, I think that we have got the message. Some things never change in student unions: a three-minute speech always takes seven minutes.Clearly, we now need ...

John Wilson: SNP

Good afternoon. In light of the Government's consultation on raising the purchase age for alcohol to 21, what are your views on the actions that have been ta...

Greig Muir:

I do not think that the Government should take advice from supermarkets about law. It is up to the Government to decide whether the proposal is an appropriat...

Tom French:

We welcome initiatives such as challenge 21 and challenge 25. In our consultation response, we suggested that the challenge 21 policy should be made a mandat...

John Wilson: SNP

I was interested in Mr French's analysis of the figures from the pilot areas. In Armadale, it was clearly identified that the number of incidents of alcohol ...

Tom French:

We need to clarify which issues we are trying to address. Are we trying to address the excessive consumption and misuse of alcohol or antisocial behaviour? T...

Rhoda Grant: Lab

We are all concerned about alcohol misuse. How could we best promote responsible drinking? You disagree with the policy of raising the age limit for purchasi...

Greig Muir:

Other policies that were mentioned in the consultation, such as setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol, could have a very positive effect. We should tak...

Tom French:

We have suggested that instead of creating new laws and raising the purchase age, there are three other ways in which we could tackle alcohol misuse in Scotl...

Gurjit Singh (National Union of Students Scotland):

Through NUS Scotland, student unions promote safe drinking in various campaigns. On Tom French's point, I believe that tackling binge drinking must be part o...

Nanette Milne: Con

I would like one small point of clarification. You have made some cogent points, all of which I agree with. In NUS Scotland's response to the Government cons...

Tom French:

Yes.

Nanette Milne: Con

Greig, have you responded, too?

Greig Muir:

Yes.

Tom French:

We were dismayed—I think that is the right term—that seven days before the consultation ended, the First Minister said that the proposal would form part of t...

Nanette Milne: Con

That will now be in the Official Report.

The Convener: Lab

There is reassurance in that the issue has to go before Parliament where, unlike previously, the Government does not command a majority.There are a couple of...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): Lab

I understand that you have done a lot of work in speaking to MSPs and various organisations. Have you found any support for the policy in those conversations?

Tom French:

The meetings have suggested that the Labour Party—as you know—the Conservative party, the Liberal Democrats, the Green party and even some Scottish National ...

Claire Baker: Lab

My follow-up question is on an issue that you have hinted at. Do you see a need for community solutions? The changes were introduced on a trial basis as loca...

Tom French:

Definitely. We want more investment in alternatives to alcohol for young people. As the Government pointed out in its consultation document, some schemes are...

John Wilson: SNP

It was said earlier that if the Government cannot get the proposal through at national level, it will introduce it at local level. I want to clarify the situ...

Tom French:

That was not my comment.

John Wilson: SNP

Right—a point was, however, made on the impact of the proposal on low-income families. Will the panel expand on that? The question whether the proposal can b...

Greig Muir:

I do not really understand the last point.

John Wilson: SNP

I will clarify it. I think you said that the proposed policy would discriminate against those who cannot afford to buy alcohol. I am trying to draw out what ...