SNP Government considers banning pint glass logos in battle to reduce deaths from alcohol

-Credit: (Image: Daily Record)
-Credit: (Image: Daily Record)


The SNP Government has ordered experts to study the impact of banning alcohol-branded pint glasses, umbrellas, and T-shirts in a bid to tackle booze deaths.

Health Secretary Neil Gray told MSPs on Thursday that Public Health Scotland will look into reducing alcohol marketing to stop people from developing drinking problems. This could include stopping bar staff from serving pints in Guinness or Tennent's glasses or wearing brewery logo T-shirts.

It comes just days after it was revealed that alcohol deaths in Scotland were at a 15-year high. There were 1,277 fatalities attributed to alcohol-specific causes in last year, an increase of one death from 2022.

Health groups have welcomed the announcement but slammed the government for its lack of urgency. It comes after a consultation on the topic ended in November last year.

Gray said in a Holyrood statement: "It is clear that steps to reduce alcohol harm are vital to supporting good public health and to reduce alcohol specific deaths.

"It is therefore vital that we are clear on the evidence and that proposals would be effective, that action to reduce alcohol harm supports good public health and would reduce alcohol specific deaths, and that decisions we take are led by evidence, balanced with the potential impact on the wider economy.

"Therefore I will commission Public Health Scotland to carry out a review of the evidence on the range of options to reduce exposure to alcohol marketing, to help us in this aim."

Dr Peter Rice, Chair of medical royal colleges partnership Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said: “Today’s statement did not have the urgency required if we want to see fewer people live in poor health for many years and for fewer people to die... The resumption of the Government's work on alcohol marketing is welcome, but this is no more than a return to the point reached 18 months ago.

He continued: “The Government's commitment to drawing on the best evidence is commendable but the only thing that will improve the health and wellbeing of people in Scotland is the translation of evidence into action."

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David McColgan, Chair of the NCD Alliance, said: “Despite ongoing action, alcohol still claims too many lives across Scotland, tearing families apart and impacting communities the length and breadth of the country.

“This announcement represents a significant potential delay to a consultation on the policy that was previously promised by the end of this year.

“The Scottish Government needs to stick to its commitment to reduce the impact of this health harming product on the Scottish population and stand up to the noise of an industry that has already delayed the introduction of measures to address the impact of marketing in the interests of their own profits.

“The shocking statistics published earlier this week highlight the urgent need to implement measures as soon as possible.”

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) said: “It is surprising that the Scottish Government have decided to revisit this area, especially after the previous proposals were rightly withdrawn after the consultation analysis showed overwhelming opposition to every single measure.

“This review must take into consideration the full range of evidence, including the potential economic impact of any additional regulations, the robust protections already in place, and the damage that could be done to a number of sectors, including sports organisations, cultural events, public transport, and to Brand Scotland in attracting inward investment.

“We have already made clear our willingness to work with the Government on the review and hope to engage with Public Health Scotland over the coming months.”

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