Alcohol
In March 2009, the Scottish Government unveiled its alcohol policy ‘Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action’ which set out the Government’s plans to go ahead with the following measures as part of the Crime and Justice Bill or as additional licensing regulations:
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Bans on ‘irresponsible’ promotions
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Minimum pricing
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Local guidance on raising the minimum age for purchase from shops to 21
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A social responsibility fee
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Restrictions on marketing material
Following a public joint industry letter supported by SGF the opposition parties united in calling for proper parliamentary scrutiny of the proposals some of which were due to be enforced as early as September 2009. The Government announced on 24 March that all the measures would now be included in a new alcohol Bill. In a letter to opposition spokespersons, Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said: “Having taken account of the representations made, the Government now proposes to introduce a new health bill that deals with a range of alcohol measures, including minimum price per unit of alcohol, alcohol promotions, limiting the use of marketing material, wine glass sizes, sale of alcohol to persons under 21 and the social responsibility fee”. The measures listed above will therefore now NOT be introduced until after the new Bill has been formally introduced.
Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Government has released its Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill’s key proposals include:
• A minimum price per unit of alcohol
• A ban on off-sales promotions
• A duty on licensing boards to consider raising the off-sales purchase age to 21
• A power to introduce a ‘social responsibility fee’ on some retailers to offset the costs of dealing with drink problems
• Restrictions on Marketing Materials
• Mandatory Age Verification Policies
Minimum pricing is the issue that has received the most media attention. The Scottish Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have all come out in opposition to the measure. The Scottish Labour Party has said it will set up a commission to look at alternative ways to target problem drinkers. The Commission will be chaired by Professor Sally Brown. The other parties have concerns regarding the legality of the measure and its effectiveness.
Though this issue of minimum pricing has received the most attention, it is the other restrictions on promotions that are likely to have the most impact on convenience stores.
The Bill and the associated documents can be found here:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/34-AlcoholEtc/index.htm
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee has invited SGF to submit written evidence for Stage 1 of the Bill by 20th January 2010. Following this a series of oral evidence sessions will be held.
It is likely to become an exceptionally complex and difficult legislative process.
Officials are aware of a lengthy list of technical and practical queries on the Bill already raised by trade representatives. They stated they did not have time to take account of these before the publication of the Bill, which means that they now have to be discussed again with much greater complication during the parliamentary process.
Scottish Grocers Federation