Sturgeon vows to ‘carefully consider’ issues in alcohol advertising consultation

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged 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 Budweiser Brewing Group, Lanson Champagne, Diageo, Whyte & Mackay and Tennent’s Lager  –  signed an open letter to Holyrood ministers, saying: “Don’t destroy Scotland’s drinks industry.”

The letter, described as being an unprecedented display of concern from the sector, marks the firms’ opposition to new restrictions that the Scottish Government is consulting on.

Alcohol producers from across Scotland, however, spoke out against the measures being consulted on, with signatories also including Belhaven, Brewdog, Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard, The Macallan, and the Molson Coors Beverage Company.

The measures being consulted on by ministers could see a ban on alcohol sponsorship for both sports and live events.

The consultation, which runs until March 9, could also see distillery and brewery shops barred from selling branded merchandise to visitors, as well as drinks branding being removed from pub umbrellas and glassware.

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, Ms 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.

“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”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “These are things we need to consider carefully and we will consider them carefully.”

However, the 100-plus firms which have 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 £6.1 billion gross value added (GVA) 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 drinks firms said: “At times like these, we urgently need the support of our Government and elected representatives.”

They argue that the “ban” on advertising and marketing will harm the sector with “no clear evidence to justify such a move”.

And they warned: “A further unintended consequence of these proposals would be the blocking of a key source of vital funds to Scotland’s sports and arts and culture sectors, at a time when they can least afford this.”

The companies insist they “recognise and share in the Scottish Government’s determination to reduce harmful consumption of alcohol”, adding that there will be “further workable steps” the sector can take to help with this.

But they argue: “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 (MUP) in the face of significant challenge from some quarters of the alcohol industry.

The spokesperson continued: “Our alcohol framework is clear that we will work with the alcohol industry on projects which can impact meaningfully on reducing alcohol harms.

“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.”