Alcohol age limit may rise to 21
The legal age for buying alcohol in an off-licence or supermarket could rise to 21 in Scotland.
The legal age for buying alcohol in an off-licence or supermarket could rise to 21 in Scotland.
While the 18 age restriction will remain in place for pubs, clubs, bars and other public drinking venues, off-licences may be forced to refuse the sale of alcohol to anyone under 21. The proposal has received a mixed response because of its confusing and controversial nature.
The proposed changes are to be announced by the Scottish Government next week. Other precautions may include raising the price of alcohol or putting an end to alcohol promotions in shops. A number of people are voicing their support for this change.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association commented: “Over the last couple of years the supermarkets have totally failed to respond to the obviously irresponsible promotions that they have within their stores.
“There`s a total lack of understanding that the prices they are charging, which means alcohol is often cheaper than water, is exacerbating the problem in Scotland.”
James Alexander, president of NUS Scotland, was strongly opposed to the changes to the law. He told BBC Scotland`s Politics Show: “My advice is not to take the easy optionÂ…but actually to do the very challenging thing, which is to change people`s attitudes towards alcohol, to change the culture in this country around binge drinking, which is not going to change by simply changing the age. That`s going to make no impact at all.”
The changes are being proposed following a successful scheme in Armadale, West Lothian. Alcohol was not sold by off-licences to under-21s on Friday and Saturdays. Complaints about young people decreased during this time.