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CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS
6.1 The Scottish Government received a total of 472 responses to Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: A Discussion Paper on Our Strategic Approach. This included 259 responses from individuals, 207 responses from a wide range of organisations and 6 combined submissions.
6.2 There was no clear consensus amongst individual respondents on the overall approach to tackling alcohol misuse or the specific proposals presented in the discussion paper. However, a clear majority of organisational respondents expressed support for the overall strategic approach and Framework for Action outlined in the discussion and supported the specific proposals presented in the discussion paper, with the exception of proposals to raise the minimum age for off-sales purchases to 21 and to introduce separate alcohol checkouts.
6.3 Many organisational respondents acknowledged the scale of the alcohol misuse problem in Scotland and the need for government to take decisive action. They felt that the proposed strategic approach is bold and puts Scotland at the leading edge of tackling alcohol misuse. Health and addictions organisations in particular welcomed the evidence-based approach taken by the Scottish Government. However, respondents from the alcohol trade and business sector questioned some of the evidence presented in support of a number of the proposals and were generally sceptical that the measures set out in the paper would deliver the desired outcomes.
6.4 While the discussion paper sought views on how a number of the measures should be implemented ( e.g. minimum retail pricing and a social responsibility fee) the majority of respondents tended to comment on whether the proposals outlined in the discussion paper should be introduced in the first place.
6.5 The detailed analysis of responses to the set questions in the discussion paper presented in this report shows that there are significant variations in the level of support amongst both individual and organisational respondents for the proposals presented.
Areas of support
6.6 Two proposals received clear majority support from both organisational and individual respondents:
- measures to end promotions and below-cost selling was supported fully or in part by 73% of organisations and 55% of individuals; and,
- increasing the age of checkout staff to 18 was supported by 72% of organisations and 74% of individuals.
Mixed views
6.7 Three proposals received clear majority support from organisations but were supported by just under half of individual respondents:
- the principle of minimum retail pricing was supported by a 65% of organisations and 49% of individuals;
- the principle of further restricting promotional material in licensed premises was supported by 56% of organisations and 48% of individuals; and,
- the principle of introducing a social responsibility fee was supported by 54% of organisations and 48% of individuals.
6.8 The proposal to introduce separate checkouts for alcohol sales was supported by 47% of organisations but was opposed by a clear majority of individuals (64%).
Area of clear opposition
6.9 One proposal was opposed by large majorities of both organisational and individual respondents: raising the minimum age for off-sales purchase was opposed by 63% of organisations and 62% of individual respondents.
Wide variations in views between different sectors
6.10 There were wide variations in views amongst the key health, local government and alcohol trade and business sectors on the various proposals put forward in the discussion paper. Health and local government bodies were generally in favour of the overall approach and the specific proposals whilst respondents from the alcohol trade and business sector were generally opposed. In summary:
- A large majority of health sector respondents supported all the proposals (ranging from 75% to 93% support), except for raising the minimum age for off-sales purchase which was supported by only a small majority (52%) of health sector respondents;
- the trade and business sector consistently registered strong opposition to all the proposals (ranging from 56% to 92%), except for increasing the age of checkout staff which was supported by 50% of trade and business sector respondents; and,
- A clear majority of local government sector respondents supported all the proposals (ranging from 64% to 84% support), expect for raising the minimum age for off-sales purchase which was opposed by 63% of local government sector respondents.
6.11 The analysis of consultation responses has shown a broad consensus on the need for action to tackle alcohol misuse and reduce 'irresponsible' drinking in Scotland. While there was disagreement (particularly between health and alcohol industry respondents) over whether the measures outlined in the discussion paper will achieve their intended goals, there was a general consensus that alcohol misuse needs to be tackled in a bold and imaginative way. The responses to the discussion paper also displayed a clear willingness from all key sectors to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to achieve the necessary change in Scotland's relationship with alcohol.
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