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Summit to tackle alcohol misuse
03/06/2009
An 'Alcohol Summit' to discuss how forthcoming legislation can change the country's relationship with drink will take place.
The forum, to be held in Edinburgh on Monday, June 22, will bring together politicians, health experts, academics, the alcohol industry and retailers.
Under discussion will be the measures outlined in the Scottish Government's Alcohol Framework, published on March 2 this year following a public consultation.
These include setting a minimum price at which a unit of alcohol can be sold, banning off-sales promotions, placing a duty on licensing boards to consider raising their off-sales purchase age to 21 and establishing a Social Responsibility Fee.
The Scottish Government now intends to bring forward the proposals as part of a parliamentary bill later this year.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Our radical plans to tackle Scotland's 2.25 billion-pound alcohol misuse problem have sparked a lively debate right across Scottish society.
"I am pleased that our groundbreaking Alcohol Framework has catapulted this issue right up the political agenda and that others are now wanting to engage.
"I therefore look forward to debating all of the issues around our proposals on June 22 with representatives from other political parties, informed by contributions from a spectrum of experts.
"It is only by challenging some of the misconceptions head-on that we can move forward and reach a consensus for the good of everybody in Scotland."
The alcohol summit will take place at Edinburgh's Radisson SAS Hotel on the Royal Mile on the June 22, 2009.