The consultation document can be found here. Closing date for responses is 9 March 2023.
The Scottish Government considers that the issue of excessive alcohol consumption in Scotland remains such a problem that it wishes to consult on the restriction of alcohol promotion and marketing as a means of addressing this. In particular, there is a focus on reducing the appeal of alcohol to young people, which the government indicates is supported by young people themselves, as well as recovering alcoholics and their families.
Restricting alcohol marketing is one of the World Health Organisation’s three recommendations for reducing alcohol-related harm, alongside minimum unit pricing and restrictions on what times alcohol can be sold, both of which Scotland has already implemented.
The proposed restrictions include:
- Banning alcohol advertising on sports merchandise, including sponsorship of replica kits, as well as on pitch-side hoardings
- Restricting alcohol promotion at non-sporting events, such as music festivals and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- Preventing alcohol advertising in outdoor spaces, including public transport, shopping centres and licensed premises such as pubs and restaurants
- Restricting shops from displaying alcohol in windows, at the end of aisles, having aisles selling alcohol across from or next to those selling non-alcoholic items, and requiring alcohol displayed behind tills to be covered, as with tobacco products
- Prohibiting the sale or distribution of alcohol-branded merchandise including T-shirts, jackets and baseball caps as well as branded glasses and mugs
- Applying potential restrictions on alcohol advertising to low and no alcohol drinks
- Prohibiting alcohol advertising in newspapers and magazines, and on television and radio, and restricting alcohol branded social media channels, websites and cinemas in Scotland
- Introducing a watershed for alcohol advertising on television, and prohibiting the use of real people or anthropomorphic animals/objects in alcohol adverts
- Requiring the alcohol industry to provide information and data on their marketing campaigns in Scotland, as well as local sales data
Clearly, the proposals within this consultation would have a significant impact on small businesses in Scotland if introduced, with particular impact on producers as well as retailers. The consultation also raises questions over the amount of government intervention in the operation of private sector businesses in Scotland, as well as the extent of the evidence base driving these proposals.
The Scottish Government acknowledges that competence to introduce these proposals may not fall entirely within the devolved settlement with the UK Government.
FSB is keen to hear views from members on these proposals in order to feed into our consultation response. We are also working with wider alcohol industry on our response, through the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership.
Individual responses to the consultation are also encouraged, and a guide to support businesses who would like to submit their own response will be made available soon.
Please contact your local Development Manager or FSB Scotland’s Head of Policy, Stacey Dingwall, if you’d like to be involved with FSB’s work in this important area.
- Highlands & Islands Development Manager: [email protected]
- North East Scotland Development Manager: [email protected]
- West of Scotland Development Manager: [email protected]
- East of Scotland Development Manager: [email protected]