FINNIE BLASTS SNP ALCOHOL PLAN

Written by Ross Finnie on Fri 17th Oct 2008

FINNIE BLASTS SNP ALCOHOL PLAN

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP has blasted the SNP for pushing on with ill-advised plans to raise the legal age for buying alcohol in shops to 21.

The SNP conference today rejected an amendment from the youth wing of the party calling for the plan to be shelved.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP said:

"I'm disappointed that the SNP Conference has rejected sensible calls from its student wing to drop the plan to raise the legal age for buying alcohol in shops to 21.

"Student nationalists are not alone in recognising the folly of this move, which would demonise an entire generation of young people as irresponsible drinkers. Ministers are blundering ahead with the plan in the face of stringent opposition in Parliament, from police representatives and from student and young people's organisations across the country.

"This is not the way to change Scotland's drinking culture."

Ends.