Irresponsible promos' ban looms in Scotland

by John Harrington

Drinks promotions deemed "irresponsible" will be banned from Scottish pubs early next year, a top minister at the Scottish Executive has promised.

Licensing boards will also have the power to block new openings and the public will be given increased power to object to new applications in legislation to be introduced early next year.

Tavish Scott, the Scottish Executive's Deputy Finance and Public Health Reform Minister, said: "Alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour is a real and visible problem across Scotland and must be tackled. Irresponsible drinks promotions can fuel violence and by removing these, we come a step closer to protecting young people and making our city centres safer."

Industry experts believe the Scottish Executive may seek to adopt Glasgow licensing board's tough approach which stops any promotion that provides an incentive to buy increased amounts of alcohol.

The move follows last month's ruling at the Court of Session in Aberdeen that licensing boards do not have the power to impose minimum pricing agreements.

Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (Scotland) chief executive Eddie Tobin welcomed the drive to curb irresponsible operators. "There's no question that there's going to be legislation regarding irresponsible promotions," he said.

"I hope the conditions are mandatory. Equally, I hope they [the Scottish Executive] will listen to the trade to ensure they are workable and not a sledgehammer to break a nut. Some places are guilty of irresponsible practice but it is only a minority."

The Scottish Executive hopes to introduce the new legislation in February 2005.

Saturation policy is important, MSP tells licensing conference

Tavish Scott, of the Scottish Executive, spoke out in favour of saturation policies when he addressed a licensing conference in Glasgow.

"Overprovision is the root of problems being experienced by many communities where there has been no coherent overall policy in place," he said. "It is an important part for our policy that [licensing] boards should conduct new overprovision assessments and block licences inanti-social hot spots."

Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA) (Scotland) chief executive Eddie Tobin said: "I'm in favour of a decision on overprovision. Overprovision is a reality. It's only now that a number of towns in England have realised it andare suffering. BEDA research shows overprovision leads to deep-discounting. One goes with the other."