Scottish Government consider under-21 booze ban

In the United Kingdom, we have long viewed America's stringent alcohol laws with a sense of both mild amusement and confusion.  It would see, to any sensible person, chopped-logic in the extreme for someone to be able to get married, drive a vehicle and serve their country in a theatre of war yet not be able to have a beer legally until they reached the age of 21.

Astonishingly, however, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Health Minister and the country's Deputy First Minister has announced she is considering imposing US-style alcohol laws. 

According to reports in the Scottish Herald today, local authorities are to be given the power to restrict sales of alcohol to those over the age of 21 in areas where underage drinking has proved to be a problem.

You can view the story here.

The proposed ban on under 21s buying booze follows a previous attempt by former Minister Cathy Jamieson who, back in 2005, attempted to introduce a ban on off-licences selling Buckfast Tonic Wine.

While Jamieson's plans were widely ridiculed, Sturgeon's plan may not prove to easy to stop - largely as a result of the outright majority her party has in the Scottish Parliament.

Have we really got to the point in this country where our devolved administrations feel the only way to tackle binge and underage drinking is to ban adults from consuming a perfectly legal product?  Regrettably, that's exactly what appears to have happening.

If you live in Scotland, please contact your local and regional list MSPs to voice your opposition to Nicola Sturgeon's plans.  You can find their details here.

Alternatively, if you'd like to make your views clear to Nicola Sturgeon herself you can reach her by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone on 0131 556 8400..

Comments

[Dick Puddlecote]

Scotland is lost to us in any meaningful liberty-conscious way. It's been evident for a quite a while now. Time to cut her loose.

[BillyBloggs]

Wait until the Welsh temperance brigade call for another referendum on Sunday Drinking to make Wales dry on Sunday again

[BevviedBob]

Having grown up in Scotland I know what the extent of the alcohol problem is. While I'm not sure that increasing the legal consumption age to 21 is the best idea, at least it *is* an idea — I wouldn't dismiss it as trivially as this posting does.

I've yet to hear of anything credible from any other policy making body (in power or not). The fact that the minimum pricing scheme proposed last parliament was blocked by Labour and the Tories without any alternative or constructive amendments offered speaks volumes.

As for the other items mentioned: driving, marriage, and signing up to be cannon-fodder — these should be raised to 18!

And the tone of some of the other comments smells slightly superior. The SNP have been voted in, they have a majority and a mandate. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

>please contact your local and regional list MSPs
I'm sure that'll make the world of difference.
>they have a majority and a mandate
No they don't.

[Dick Puddlecote]

"And the tone of some of the other comments smells slightly superior"

How else should it sound when the Scots are being treated like babies by their assembly? ;)

[Sam Duncan]

How exactly is raising the age limit supposed to prevent underage drinking?

Okay, so presumably the idea is that it's harder for a 16-year-old to pretend to be 21 than 18. To which I have only one thing to say, and it's not polite.

[RebuildHadriansWall]

Again, this is the wrong solution because socialists are in denial of what the problem is. Years and years, generations, a culture of being stuck in a rut and better off in benefits than work, being 'OK' to commit crime, and generally be downstanding citizens reinforced by policies of an ever left-leaning politik.
THAT is a much more difficult problem to swallow & requires a range of solutions mainly completely unrelated to alcohol that the little socialist brains can't fathem and few brains could actually link all together.

[SadButMadLad]

Raising the age at which you can drink alcohol does not stop underage drinking. Underage means under the legal age. Raising the age from 18 to 21 means that a 20 year old will be an underage drinker.

So the problem increases.

So they raise the age to 30. Then 50. Then force everyone to stop drinking. Well that seems to be the plan anyway according to Dick Puddlecote.

[Facts]

Is it worth pointing out that the SG is doing nothing of the sort?

The SG has issued guidance on long existing powers which would allow licensing authorities to put an individual U21 ban on certain shops, where they have been selling irresponsibly.

It may be worth criticising these plans, but no one benefits from getting the facts wrong!

[scott diet solution guy]

Cool man thanks for sharing them all...

[John]

Retarded! We've grown accustomed to such nonsense from the US, but Scotland?!

I propose that Ms Sturgeon needs to down half a bottle of the finest scotch invented by her fellow countrymen and get laid...then go and find some other political issue to win points on! ;))

[bubbery sunglases]

on long existing powers which would allow licensing authorities to put an individual U21 ban on certain shops, where they have been selling irresponsibly.

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[christian louboutin]

Years and years, generations, a culture of being stuck in a rut and better off in benefits than work, being 'OK' to commit crime, and generally be

[MBT Shoes]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.