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The letter below tackled Tory misinformation on Scottish Government
proposals to tackle alcohol abuse in Scotland:
in the Southern Reporter and Berwickshire News, 23 October 2008
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Paul congratulates Janie Orr on her
election as MSYP for Berwickshire |
Sir,
John Lamont recently called
for sensible debate on the issue of alcohol licensing then proceeded
to do the opposite. The Tories, Lib Dems and Labour, didn’t find
the time to make a submission to the SNP Scottish Government
consultation on its alcohol strategy, yet snipe from the sidelines.
John accuses the SNP
Government of “suggesting that alcohol misuse was some sort of young
persons’ disease”. Research undertaken by Young Scot indicate that
33% of young people themselves thought the proposals on raising the
age limit for off-licences were a good idea, compared with 36% who
did not.
The 2006 SALSUS report, on
alcohol abuse, indicated that 71% of boys and 75% of girls had been
drunk by the age of 15. Some 11% of 13 year olds and 23% of 15 year
olds had bought alcohol in an off-licence. Young Scot’s research
also revealed that a minimum of 36% of individuals under the age of
18 had asked someone over 18 to buy alcohol for them. Last year,
off-trade sales accounted for 51% of rapidly growing alcohol volume
sales in Scotland, up from 24% in 1980. Off-sales account for
three-quarters of spirits and 95% of fortified wine sales.
Young people are more likely
to be the victims of alcohol fuelled crime and 43% of respondents to
Young Scot thought the new age limit would help reduce alcohol
related accidents, assaults and other types of harm. Only 29%
disagreed.
The proposed change to the
legal age at which young people can buy alcoholic drinks from an
off-license is just one of several measures proposed to address
binge drinking by all age groups. We don’t aim to punish young
people, but to facilitate a controlled introduction to responsible
consumption of alcohol in a supervised setting, such as a pub. The
introduction of an over-21 age limit for off-licence sales is
supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
(Scotland), The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, The
Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams and, community
councils, such as The Royal Burgh of Selkirk and District.
Unlike the Tories, the SNP’s
youth wing, Young Scots for Independence, voiced its concerns in the
consultation and debated well at our national conference. The SNP
Government may respond by allowing introduction of local bans in
trouble spots, on a similar basis to the successful pilot schemes,
rather than a full, nationwide ban.
John mentions anomalies
regarding young soldiers. In 2001, the Child Soldiers Global Report,
identified the UK as the only country in Europe that still recruits
16-year-olds into its army, and routinely sends soldiers as young as
17 into battle. That is a disgrace. Incidentally, these soldiers
can’t purchase a drink now, in either a pub or an off-licence.
Sixteen year olds can join the Army, but can’t drive, on safety
grounds. Such anomalies already exist, with good reason.
If John believes in
addressing anomalies, will he support the SNP in reducing the voting
age to 16? As my fellow local nationalist Janie Orr’s elevation to
the Scottish Youth Parliament has shown, given the chance, 16 year
olds can be very eloquent ambassadors for their peers and causes,
such as the environment. John, can you justify taxation without
representation?
Yours faithfully
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate,
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
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