Dundee LibDems back call for more responsible alcohol marketing campaigns (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Dundee LibDems back call for more responsible alcohol marketing campaigns

October 10, 2009 5:03 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Robert Brown MSP

Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson, Robert Brown MSP, has called on Ministers and policy makers to encourage more responsible alcohol marketing to help bring about the culture change needed to tackle Scotland's damaging relationship with alcohol.

Mr Brown's call comes after a BBC Scotland investigation revealed that alcohol played a major roll in 68% of Scottish Ambulance Service call outs at weekends and as policy makers met last week to discuss new ways to tackle problems caused by alcohol abuse.

Commenting, Mr Brown said, "These figures highlight just how widespread and damaging the effects of alcohol abuse are in Scotland. It is worrying that alcohol related call outs may be preventing our hard working ambulance crews from reaching others in need of help.

"Alcohol related call outs are largely preventable if, as a nation, we can adopt a more responsible approach to alcohol consumption.

"Policy makers ... must acknowledge the importance of working to bring about a culture change in Scotland's relationship with alcohol.

"The key target has to be the disastrous practice of "pre-loading" where people get tanked up at home before going out to clubs and bars. The alcohol industry itself must do more to discourage irresponsible drinking like this.

"A good first step would be to adopt much more responsible marketing campaigns. A partnership between Government, local communities, alcohol producers and supermarkets to use advertising budgets to help change attitudes could be very effective.

"The SNP Government's proposal for minimum pricing is marginal at best and will not address the real reason of why people drink themselves stupid in the first place.

"Ministers should also be focusing on using existing legislation to crack down on irresponsible retailers and bars."

Here in Dundee, City Council LibDem Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, added, "It is important that Scottish Government backs the calls for more responsible alcohol marketing campaigns. There must be real doubt that the SNP proposal for minimum pricing will make any real difference."