Reducing harm caused by alcohol

News A responsible drinking campaign that features cocktail recipes

News

A ‘responsible’ drinking campaign that features cocktail recipes?

Alcohol Focus Scotland is "deeply concerned" that the Scottish Government has pledged to support a whisky industry campaign to raise awareness about the alcohol content of drinks.

Following a meeting between the drinks industry and the First Minister to discuss how the industry and government can work in partnership the First Minister welcomed the campaign.  

In response, Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said, "A ‘responsible’ drinking campaign that features cocktail recipes? As a campaign to reduce drinking in Scotland this is laughable. It is a completely divorced from the reality of 24% of adults in Scotland regularly drinking above low risk guidelines and alcohol deaths at a 14 year high, causing misery to thousands of families.

"It is deeply concerning to see the First Minister endorse this blatant form of alcohol marketing. If Scottish Government wants industry to play a part in communicating health messages it should require them to provide the low-risk guidelines and health warnings on every bottle, can and menu. We all have a right to know what’s in our drink."

“The Scottish Government promotion of this Scotch Whisky Association campaign would be in direct contravention of its own Alcohol Framework 2018 which states they will not work with the alcohol industry on health messaging campaigns. We hope they think again.”

Find out more about why we need mandatory labelling on alcoholic drinks.

 

11 September 2023