‘Draconian’ plans to ban alcohol sponsors slammed
Organisers of sports and cultural events in Kintyre have slammed “draconian” plans to ban alcohol brands from sponsoring events as the end of a consultation on the proposals approaches.
The Scottish Government is gathering views until Thursday (March 9) on its plans to restrict alcohol advertising and promotion, in a bid to tackle Scotland’s “troubled relationship with alcohol”.
The proposals include banning distillery and brewery shops from selling branded merchandise, removing drinks branding from pub umbrellas and glassware, and banning drinks industry funding of sports and cultural events including arts and music festivals.
A spokesman for the annual Mull of Kintyre Music Festival, which brings hundreds of people to the area during a five-day programme of concerts every
August, described the proposals as “very concerning”.
“We have three concerts which are sponsored by local distilleries, the Beinn an Tuirc Gaelic Night, Glen Scotia West Coast Rocks Concert and Kilkerran Survivors Night,” he said. “It is important to the festival to have various streams of funding to keep the event sustainable and we have been building up our sponsorship deals over the past few years.
“If the alcohol brands were banned from sponsoring our event, this would have a detrimental effect on the overall event and, in particular, on the three sponsored concerts.”
This year also sees the return of the Glen Scotia Mull of Kintyre Marathon in September, following a hiatus during the Covid pandemic.
Race director Elaine McGeachy also believes the proposals would have a detrimental impact on the Glen Scotia Distillery-sponsored event.
“I understand the government sentiment and goal of tackling alcohol abuse but also think it is looking for extra tax income,” she said.
“However, small events like the Glen Scotia Mull of Kintyre Marathon and upcoming Mull of Kintyre Triathlon series rely on local sponsors and we are very grateful to them; we also love to help promote local businesses and it attracts people to the events.”
She added: “I don’t think anyone would think events such as the Glen Scotia Mull of Kintyre Marathon would be linked to alcohol misuse.
‘I don’t think anyone would think events such as the Glen Scotia Mull of Kintyre Marathon would be linked to alcohol misuse.’
“Glen Scotia is a fantastic sponsor which provides financial investment and prizes to let the event take place.
“This encourages people to take on a new challenge of a marathon or improve their time whilst actively promoting Kintyre – without their sponsorship, it would be difficult to stage.”
Garreth Roberts, one of the organisers of Clachan Smallholders Gathering, an annual event promoting local crafts, industry, culture and music which is supported by
Springbank, Glen Scotia and Beinn an Tuirc distilleries, described the planned measures as “draconian”.
“The Smallholders Gathering, like so many other events and festivals, is a family event, where responsible drinking is already strictly enforced by event organisers and the attendees themselves, let alone licence holders like myself, whose reputation for maintaining public safety has always been paramount,” he said.
“The proposed policy would not lessen the intake of alcohol by members of the public with an alcohol addiction, but would affect the local economy through marketing and manufacturing jobs being lost in the industry.
“You have to ask why the Scottish Government would be seeking to weaken one of the country’s most important exports and tourism attractions, never mind the vital role that whisky, in particular, plays in the investment sector as a safe haven asset that has consistently out-performed the stock market.”
Garreth is also concerned about how the plans could impact him personally, having spent the last six years investing and raising investment capital for his own start-up wine-making venture Ancient Wine & Beverages Co Ltd.
“Kintyre and Argyll-based drinks firms place a high premium on creating high quality products that is literally built upon a history that goes back to the Bronze Age, and is a part of the rise of Western civilisation,” he said. “The GDP [gross domestic product] and technical innovations created by the drinks industry is literally incalculable.
“The fact there is no museum in Scotland telling the remarkable story of the industry and the culture that it arose from is a disgrace, and it’s a story I have actively being trying to research in an attempt to make people aware of what a powerful positive impact it has had on society.
“The industry and Scottish society must push back against what is, in fact, a cultural attack upon the population and entrepreneurs alike.”
Visit consult.gov.scot/alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertising-and-promotion before the March 9 deadline.