Drinks giant slams Scottish government

Diageo has slammed plans by the Scottish government to crack down on pubs' alcohol sales and promotions, and proposed an alternative system of "co-regulation".

The Scottish government is currently consulting on a discussion paper entitled "Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol" - a document which makes proposals including bans on drinks promotions, minimum pricing and fines for pubs breaking these codes.

Diageo's consultation response outlines a system of co-regulation for alcohol promotions. It would involve setting out a clearly-defined promotional code of practice, applying to all those who manufacture, sell and serve alcohol. Co-regulation means that government and industry own the policy together, apply it together, and police and the industry enforce it together as partners.

Government would set overall objectives and mandatory standards across a range of alcohol issues. Industry would then be free to develop an easy-to-work system of regulation to meet the government's objectives.

Diageo Great Britain managing director Benet Slay said: "We are disillusioned with the Scottish government's paper and frustrated that government is trying to place responsibility for tackling alcohol misuse on the shoulders of the drinks industry.

"We believe the most effective approach to promoting the highest standards of responsible behaviour, across industry and for every consumer, is through a fair, transparent and effective system of co-regulation."

Slay also hit out at ministers' proposals for minimum pricing, claiming that the government had "offered no evidence to support its view that minimum pricing will reduce alcohol-related harm".

He said: "We recognise that the good work of the majority in industry is undermined by some irresponsible promotions conducted by a minority, but if government introduces a mechanism to regulate price, they risk penalising the responsible drinker without specifically targeting those who misuse alcohol."