As a company at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking, we are frustrated by some of the restrictions outlined in the Scottish Government's legislative programme (your report, 4 September). We believe they serve only to penalise the responsible drinker and fail to tackle the issue of patterns of alcohol misuse which lie at the heart of the problem.
We welcome the government's recognition that working alongside industry is key to finding a solution. That is why we believe the most effective approach to promoting responsible behaviour is through a system of effective co-regulation, under which g
overnment would set overall objectives and mandatory standards on alcohol promotions. If the objectives were not met, the government would be able to use its regulatory teeth to tackle the problem. I hope the Scottish Government's stated desire to work with industry is reflected in the final proposals, so that we tackle the problem without hurting the vast majority of responsible drinkers.
BENET SLAY
Managing director, Diageo GB
Lakeside Drive
LondonThe Scottish Government is to be congratulated on the strength of its proposals to make it more difficult for young people to get their hands on alcohol, a pernicious drug that is at the root of so many social evils. We are winning the war against drugs and can easily build this into a war against alcohol and make intoxication a thing of the past. Why don't they ban drink from official functions to set a good example?
JOHN EOIN DOUGLAS
Spey Terrace
EdinburghThe full article contains 256 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
