Mike Pringle MSP and Margaret Smith MSP Campaign Against SNP Alcohol Proposals

6.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Oct 2008

Mike and Margaret Join the Protest

Edinburgh MSPs Margaret Smith and Mike Pringle attended a protest outside the Scottish Parliament today, campaigning against the Scottish Government's proposals to raise the legal age for buying alcohol from off licences to 21.

The protest was attended by students, politicians and young people from across Scotland concerned about the discriminatory nature of the plans.

There was good news for the protesters later in the day as the Government's proposals suffered a serious setback when they were defeated by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament chamber

Commenting, Mike Pringle said:

"These proposals are a reactionary and misguided move by the Government, designed to appear tough rather than solve the problem.

"Surely Scotland should nor become a place where at age 18 you can bravely fight for your country, or vote in an election, but are not trusted to buy a bottle of wine to enjoy with friends over an evening meal or a couple of beers to watch the match with?

"It is not just a matter of age, cultural change is required and draconian measures like these will do little to foster the real discussion necessary to make that happen.

Margaret Smith said

'Earlier this year I exposed the astonishing truth about how few retailers are actually prosecuted for selling alcohol to minors - just 70 out 357 recorded offences.

'It is shocking that so many licensed premises are being allowed to ignore the law. The SNP should be cracking down on these rogue retailers before stigmatising all those aged between 18 and 21.

'Young people in Edinburgh should be part of the solution, not just part of the problem and the Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh will continue to campaign against these ludicrous plans.'

Tom French, Coordinator of CARDAS added:

"We very much welcome the ongoing support of the Liberal Democrats in opposing this daft and discriminatory proposal.

"With such a wealth of evidence now clearly highlighting that raising the minimum purchase age will not help tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland, it is about time that the Scottish Government listened to the overwhelming opposition in the Parliament and among the people and dropped these proposals."

Ends.