Ian Swanson - Stronger drink laws in Scotland?
The debate on more powers for the Scottish Parliament will burst into life again tomorrow with the interim report of the Calman commission.
But evidence of the increasingly divergent paths already being followed by Scotland and England under the existing level of devolution will be displayed in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.
According to reports in some newspapers today, the UK government’s list of proposed legislation will include tougher licensing laws, including a ban on certain kinds of promotions - but not the minimum pricing for alcohol, which forms a key part of the SNP’s plans to tackle alcohol misuse here in Scotland.
It’s a fair bet the UK Government won’t be proposing a ban on under-21s buying booze from off-licences either.
We’re still waiting to hear how the Scottish Government will amend its extensive list of proposals in the light of its consultation before coming forward with a bill. The chances are there will be a compromise over the under-21 ban, but Scotland could still end up with significantly tougher laws on alcohol than south of the border.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has come in for a lot of criticism for his proposals.
But whatever you think of them, Mr MacAskill cannot be accused of populism, the charge often made against other SNP policies.
But evidence of the increasingly divergent paths already being followed by Scotland and England under the existing level of devolution will be displayed in the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday.
According to reports in some newspapers today, the UK government’s list of proposed legislation will include tougher licensing laws, including a ban on certain kinds of promotions - but not the minimum pricing for alcohol, which forms a key part of the SNP’s plans to tackle alcohol misuse here in Scotland.
It’s a fair bet the UK Government won’t be proposing a ban on under-21s buying booze from off-licences either.
We’re still waiting to hear how the Scottish Government will amend its extensive list of proposals in the light of its consultation before coming forward with a bill. The chances are there will be a compromise over the under-21 ban, but Scotland could still end up with significantly tougher laws on alcohol than south of the border.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has come in for a lot of criticism for his proposals.
But whatever you think of them, Mr MacAskill cannot be accused of populism, the charge often made against other SNP policies.
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