10,000 in bid to call time on raising alcohol purchase age

MORE than 10,000 names have been collected on a petition against Scottish Government plans to raise the minimum off-sales alcohol purchase age from 18 to 21.

The Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland (Cardas) – whose members include Edinburgh University Students Association – will be submitting the signatures to parliament later this month.

It argues raising the minimum purchase age is a "deeply flawed and discriminatory" proposal, that "demonises" young people.

Edinburgh University student Tom French, coordinator of Cardas, said: "We have shown the Scottish Government, beyond doubt, that the evidence from abroad and at home is clear; raising the minimum purchase age for alcohol is a bad policy that will not solve Scotland's alcohol problem and could increase alcohol misuse as it has done in the USA.

"It is a policy that demonises young people and infringes on the rights of the responsible majority of young adults who would be trusted to go to war, get married, and even run a pub at 18, but could not have a glass of wine over dinner with friends or family."