Professor adds voice to Scottish drinks ban concerns

Published: 12 September, 2008

Banning alcohol sales to those under the age of 21 has not proved greatly successful during a number of trials, it has been claimed, meaning the Scottish government should think again about the plans.

Banning alcohol sales to those under the age of 21 has not proved greatly successful during a number of trials, it has been claimed, meaning the Scottish government should think again about the plans.

Vice president at the Royal Statistical Society professor Sheila Bird said that politicians should have considered more practice runs before the possible implementation of the rule.

The expert argued that the only way that it could be proven such a ban was working was if it was introduced in a number of areas.

If this was the case, she told the Scotsman, crime there could be measured against locations where there was no ban - to see if other influences were impacting on people's behaviour.

She added: "It's disappointing that in such a potentially important intervention as this, there are more questions than answers.

A "proper study" is needed in the area, she remarked, because it is such a significant one that many people come up against every day.

Her comments come after chief executive of the Portman Group David Poley suggested the Scottish National Party is attempting to "demonize" the drink in Scotland.

Poley asserted that attempts to make alcohol a "social taboo" will not have the desired impact.

Various proposals were recently announced by the First Minister in Scotland Alex Salmond, including changes to the purchasing age, which the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) argued are chasing headlines and not attempting to solve drink-related issues.