 Pilot bans on selling to under 21s were tried in some parts of Scotland |
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has vowed to listen to the views of local communities and the police on ways of tackling alcohol problems. Mr MacAskill was speaking to the BBC a day after MSPs voted against plans to ban under 21s from buying drink in off-sales and supermarkets. He said ministers would also look at the impact of pilot bans in some parts of Scotland, as well as MSPs' opinions. The proposal is part of a package of measures. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr MacAskill said: "We will listen to opposition MSPs, but we will listen to communities and as a government we are also listening to our police, to our medical profession, who are saying 'we can not go on like we are'." A six-month trial of raising the age limit to 21 in Stenhousemuir saw anti-social behaviour calls on Friday and Saturday evenings reduced by 40%, breaches of the peace also fell by 40%, and minor assaults were down by 30%. After Thursday's vote the Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser wrote to the justice secretary, urging him to abandon the move. Mr MacAskill said: "We will as I say reflect upon the views of the opposition in parliament. "Equally we will reflect upon the other input that was put in by medical, police, communities, who accept that Scotland can not go on as we are, that we do have to change." He also insisted the government had "never been anti-alcohol", arguing ministers wanted to address Scotland's "frankly unhealthy" relationship with booze. And he said: "We'll be coming back and making it quite clear to parliament where we think we have to go. "Simply saying we're going to change the culture is not good enough, that's been said for the last generation or more." Drinks industry Meanwhile, BMA Scotland has called for legislation to introduce compulsory labelling on all alcoholic products to help people understand and manage their drinking habits. Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "Unfortunately, many people are confused as to how much alcohol is in each drink. "This can lead to binge drinking or regularly drinking over and above the recommended allowance, which brings with it a host of social, psychological and physical problems. "The drinks industry agreed to a voluntary code to label drinks with their alcohol content in 1998. "Yet, 10 years on, it is not working and it is time for government to take tough action."
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Simply saying we're going to change the culture is not good enough, that's been said for the last generation or more
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