Nicola Sturgeon has pledged that her government will “carefully consider” the issues around alcohol advertising, after an outcry from the drinks industry.
But the First Minister stressed the need to take “responsible steps to protect public health” – insisting there was evidence that adverts which “glamorise” drinking could lead to “over-consumption of alcohol”.
She spoke out after more than 100 firms which produce alcohol - including the BrewDog, Diageo, Whyte & Mackay and Tennent’s - signed an open letter to MSPs stating: “Don’t destroy Scotland’s drinks industry.”
This unprecedented display of concern from the sector marked opposition to new restrictions that the Scottish Government is consulting on.
The potential measures could see a ban on alcohol sponsorship for both sports and live events, as well as distilleries and breweries barred from selling branded merchandise to visitors - and pubs having to remover branded outdoor umbrellas and glasses.
With ministers also considering a ban on all outdoor advertising of alcohol, including on vehicles, and a ban on adverts in newspapers and magazines, the companies that signed the letter fear the measures would result in a “blanket ban on alcohol advertising and sponsorship” in Scotland.
But speaking at a press conference in Edinburgh, Sturgeon insisted: “This is not about doing economic damage to the alcohol industry.
“It is about making sure we are taking responsible steps to protect public health.”
She said she was “aware” of the letter, adding that public health minister Maree Todd is due to meet alcohol industry bosses, amongst others, during the consultation.
“I am aware of the letter that has been sent; the consultation, of course, is ongoing, and the public health minister will meet with a range of stakeholders over the course of the consultation.“
The First Minister stressed that “nobody in government is telling people not to drink alcohol at all”, adding that the changes being considered were about the “responsible consumption of alcohol”.
She added that there is evidence globally that “advertising that glamorises” could “lead to over-consumption of alcohol”, adding: “These are things we need to consider carefully and we will consider them carefully.”
However, the businesses which signed the letter insisted that the changes being considered “could not have come at a worse time for our sector, and the many thousands we employ”.
With the sector employing 88,700 people in Scotland, and contributing £6.1bn gross value added to the economy each year, according to the companies, they described drinks such as Scotch whisky, and beers and gins produced in Scotland, as being “iconic exports which, in turn, drive our economy here at home”.
But they said the sector had “suffered hard through the Covid years”, and added that the current cost-of-living crisis “threatens the very existence” of some firms.
The letter stated that they “recognise and share in the Scottish Government’s determination to reduce harmful consumption of alcohol”, but argued: “These proposals will not serve to achieve this and do not address the root cause of why someone might come to have a harmful relationship with alcohol.
“Instead, they will needlessly hold our country back, to the detriment of Scottish jobs.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Alcohol-related harm is one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland.
“An average of 700 people are hospitalised and 24 people die each week from illnesses caused by drinking alcohol, that’s why we have taken forward initiatives such as Minimum Unit Pricing in the face of significant challenge from some quarters of the alcohol industry.
“The public health minister has already been clear that there is evidence that adverts which glamorise drinking can encourage young people to drink alcohol and have a detrimental impact on those in recovery from problem alcohol use.
“The Scottish Government is determined to tackle Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol and the current wide-ranging consultation is an important step in doing that.”
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