Chamber
Plenary, 07 Mar 2007
07 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Alcohol Misuse
The test purchasing scheme is welcomed in the motion, and the member's comment about education for parents and children brings us back to the culture change that is required, so I have no hesitation in agreeing whole-heartedly with him.
There is irresponsible promotion and pricing in the off-sales trade. It is perverse that a person in Scotland can buy a bottle of cider that is cheaper than a bottle of water, although we are a nation surrounded by water and quite often deluged by rain. The price of alcohol in pubs is being tackled. We are outlawing two-for-one offers and irresponsible promotions that encourage people to consume as much drink as they can as cheaply as possible. A measure on two-for-one offers in pubs should surely apply to such offers in supermarkets. If it is wrong to encourage someone to buy two pints of lager for the price of one, it is equally wrong to promote the sale of two cases of lager for the price of one. We must tackle irresponsible pricing and promotion by extending the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to cover not just the on-sales but the off-sales trade and we must then enforce the law.
Under the law of the land, alcohol should not be sold or supplied to minors. However, communities throughout Scotland know that the law is routinely abused. The sale of alcohol to minors is not always deliberate—people can be leaned on and threatened—but it is unacceptable. We need a proof-of-age card, because there is clear evidence from Canada and the United States of America, for example, that such an approach works and supports licensees who want to abide by the law. We must ensure that people who sell or supply alcohol to minors are prosecuted and have their licences revoked.
The action that we need to take is widespread and is not limited to the measures that the motion and amendments describe. We must tackle the problem, because it is growing. We must tackle not just the on-sales trade but the off-sales trade. We must address the irresponsible sale and promotion of alcohol and the provision of cheap drink, in particular in supermarkets. We must stop the sale of alcohol to minors, for their benefit and for the benefit of communities.
I move,
That the Parliament notes with concern the recent alcohol statistics published by the Office for National Statistics which show that men and women in Scotland are twice as likely to die an alcohol-related death as people in the United Kingdom as a whole; recognises the huge cost of alcohol abuse to the health service and the economy and its impact on families; further recognises the clear links between alcohol abuse and crime and antisocial behaviour; further notes that youth disorder and violence in many communities throughout Scotland are often fuelled by cheap and easily available alcohol; welcomes measures such as test purchasing and calls for the strict enforcement of existing licensing legislation to prevent the sale or supply of alcohol to those under age, and calls for the powers contained within the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to be extended to off-sales premises, thus stopping irresponsible drink promotions in off-sales premises and the practice of deep discounting of alcohol by supermarkets.
There is irresponsible promotion and pricing in the off-sales trade. It is perverse that a person in Scotland can buy a bottle of cider that is cheaper than a bottle of water, although we are a nation surrounded by water and quite often deluged by rain. The price of alcohol in pubs is being tackled. We are outlawing two-for-one offers and irresponsible promotions that encourage people to consume as much drink as they can as cheaply as possible. A measure on two-for-one offers in pubs should surely apply to such offers in supermarkets. If it is wrong to encourage someone to buy two pints of lager for the price of one, it is equally wrong to promote the sale of two cases of lager for the price of one. We must tackle irresponsible pricing and promotion by extending the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to cover not just the on-sales but the off-sales trade and we must then enforce the law.
Under the law of the land, alcohol should not be sold or supplied to minors. However, communities throughout Scotland know that the law is routinely abused. The sale of alcohol to minors is not always deliberate—people can be leaned on and threatened—but it is unacceptable. We need a proof-of-age card, because there is clear evidence from Canada and the United States of America, for example, that such an approach works and supports licensees who want to abide by the law. We must ensure that people who sell or supply alcohol to minors are prosecuted and have their licences revoked.
The action that we need to take is widespread and is not limited to the measures that the motion and amendments describe. We must tackle the problem, because it is growing. We must tackle not just the on-sales trade but the off-sales trade. We must address the irresponsible sale and promotion of alcohol and the provision of cheap drink, in particular in supermarkets. We must stop the sale of alcohol to minors, for their benefit and for the benefit of communities.
I move,
That the Parliament notes with concern the recent alcohol statistics published by the Office for National Statistics which show that men and women in Scotland are twice as likely to die an alcohol-related death as people in the United Kingdom as a whole; recognises the huge cost of alcohol abuse to the health service and the economy and its impact on families; further recognises the clear links between alcohol abuse and crime and antisocial behaviour; further notes that youth disorder and violence in many communities throughout Scotland are often fuelled by cheap and easily available alcohol; welcomes measures such as test purchasing and calls for the strict enforcement of existing licensing legislation to prevent the sale or supply of alcohol to those under age, and calls for the powers contained within the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to be extended to off-sales premises, thus stopping irresponsible drink promotions in off-sales premises and the practice of deep discounting of alcohol by supermarkets.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5692, in the name of Kenny MacAskill, on tackling alcohol misuse.
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
The Scottish National Party's motion seeks to express the concern that is shared throughout the Parliament—and increasingly throughout the land—that Scotland...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
Does the member welcome the alcohol test purchasing scheme that is being rolled out, after being piloted in Fife, whereby retailers who sell alcohol to under...
Mr MacAskill:
SNP
The test purchasing scheme is welcomed in the motion, and the member's comment about education for parents and children brings us back to the culture change ...
The Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business (George Lyon):
LD
I welcome the opportunity to talk about an important subject and describe actions that we have taken as part of a long-term process of changing culture—I am ...
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
George Lyon:
LD
I have quite a bit to say and I want to make progress, but I will give way to the member soon.We cannot have a short-term approach that targets one issue but...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
Yesterday, the Local Government and Transport Committee considered a statutory instrument that will allow clubs to open to the public and sell cheaper drink,...
George Lyon:
LD
As Mr Crawford will remember from discussing the matter in committee, the occasional licences provided for by the regulations that we dealt with yesterday ar...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
Will the member give way?
George Lyon:
LD
I do not have a lot of time, but yes.
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
It is just a quick question. Will the Executive ban drink that is considered to be too high in its alcoholic content?
George Lyon:
LD
I am just coming to that matter. For on-sales premises, we are banning promotions that offer alcohol free or at a reduced price on the purchase of another dr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
You have one minute left.
George Lyon:
LD
We will shortly publish the outcome of research that examined issues around off-sales promotions and antisocial behaviour, as we promised during the stage 1 ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Quickly.
George Lyon:
LD
We can change culture, as the smoking ban shows. It is about creating a society where alcohol misuse is no longer acceptable.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
You must close.
George Lyon:
LD
That inclusive approach is the right way to tackle Scotland's love affair with the booze.I move amendment S2M-5692.2, to leave out from "with concern" to end...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I call Nanette Milne to open for the Conservatives. You have four minutes.
Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Alcohol misuse is one of the most serious public health problems facing Scotland. Long gone are the days of my youth, when alcohol was available at home only...
George Lyon:
LD
I hope that the member will recognise that we can amend the schedule to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to deal with the situation if we think that on-sale...
Mrs Milne:
Con
Yes, I appreciate that, minister.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
You have one minute, Mrs Milne.
Mrs Milne:
Con
There are so many licensed premises today that competition for custom is fierce, and licensing boards should be seriously considering the proliferation of al...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I must hurry you, Mrs Milne.
Mrs Milne:
Con
The Conservatives have previously called for a crackdown on owners of licensed premises that sell to underage drinkers and for businesses to become more invo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
You really must close.
Mrs Milne:
Con
We must support all initiatives to safeguard our society against alcohol abuse.I move amendment S2M-5692.1, to leave out from "and calls" to end and insert:"...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I must stress to members that four minutes means four minutes—not four and a half, or four and three quarters. The rest of the speeches will have to be timed...