Industries unite against alcohol advertising ban
A coalition of 100 alcohol brands, from Tennent’s Lager and The Famous Grouse to Ardnamurchan Distillery and West Highland Breweries in Spean Bridge, have signed an open letter to the SNP-Green administration urging them not to “destroy Scotland’s drinks industry”.
The signatories are calling for the immediate shelving of plans to restrict alcohol advertising and sponsorship.
The consultation, which runs until Thursday March 9, proposes measures to tackle Scotland’s “troubled relationship with alcohol”.
The plans include banning distillery and brewery shops from selling branded merchandise to visitors; banning drinks industry funding of sports and cultural events such as rugby, football, arts festivals and live music; and removing drinks branding from pub umbrellas and glassware.
The plans for a “blanket ban”, the petition said, “could not have come at a worse time for our sector and the many thousands we employ. Such a ban will harm Scotland’s alcohol distillers and brewers, who are an integral component of Brand Scotland, with no clear evidence to justify such a move.”
It would also “block a key source of vital funds to Scotland’s sports and arts and culture sectors, at a time when they can least afford this. The petition continues: “We recognise and share in the Scottish Government’s determination to reduce harmful consumption of alcohol.
“However, these proposals do not address the root cause. Instead, they will needlessly hold our country back, to the detriment of Scottish jobs.”
John Trew, owner of Fort William-based Oban Ales – which manufactures equipment to the micro-brewing industry – and current chairman of Fort William Football Club, sponsors a player and an advertising board at Claggan Park.
“My personal view is that this is the nanny state going too far once again,” he told us.
“With whisky being one of Scotland’s best exports its unfathomable that this would happen. It’s not just football that will lose out, it’s all sports. We already have legislation in place to protect minors.”
The proposals also include banning adverts on billboards and in newspapers and magazines. This could wipe out an eighth of some Scottish news publishers’ advertising revenues, and “cripple” local newspapers, according to the Scottish Newspaper Society (SNS).
The “draconian ban”, it said, could also destroy tourism publications on which many independent publishers rely.
Nic Goddard, editor of community newspaper De Tha Dol, said: “De Tha Dol relies heavily on advertising and sponsorship revenue, and Nc’nean distillery in Drimnin, Ardnamurchan Distillery and Ardgour Ales brewery are all regular advertisers with us.
“We also have regular features throughout the year promoting local food and drink, and had planned features for Whisky Day in May, Gin Day in June and Beer Day in August to support and promote our local alcohol producers.” A ban could force UK-wide publishers to either produce Scotland-only editions of single edition magazines, or not distribute in Scotland at all.
SNS director John McLellan said: “The consultation paper produces no concrete evidence to prove the extent of the effect of advertising in news brands on children or people suffering addiction issues, yet the clear intention is to knock this leg from under our businesses and cripple them in the process.”
▮ If you would like to respond to the consultation, you can do so here consult.gov.scot/ alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertising-and-promotion