SMITH LAUNCHES ONLINE PETITION AGAINST DRINKING AGE PLANS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jun 2008

Iain Smith, Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife has launched an online petition against the Scottish Government's proposal to raise the drinking age for off-sales to 21.

Although the Liberal Democrats agree that radical action must be taken to tackle Scotland's lethal relationship with alcohol, raising the drinking age for off-sales will demonise every under 21 year old as drinking irresponsibly.

Mr Smith is urging people in North East Fife who oppose these proposals to sign the online petition.

The petition has been posted on Iain Smith's website www.iainsmith.org and on the Scottish Liberal Democrat website and will run alongside the official consultation period for the Government's alcohol strategy. The Liberal Democrats will present the results of the petition to the Health Secretary.

Commenting, Iain Smith said:

"Raising the drinking age for off-sales to 21 is a totally misguided move by the SNP. It will introduce a presumption that an entire generation of 18 to 20 year-olds in North East Fife are irresponsible drinkers and will do nothing to improve relations between government and young people. Indeed, it could do quite the reverse.

"If Scotland is to tackle its drink problem we need the overwhelming majority of young people who drink responsibly on-side and campaigning and setting an example to their generation.

"So, the Liberal Democrats have launched an online petition against this absurd move. It will run alongside the Government's own consultation and we will present the findings to the Health Secretary in the Scottish Parliament.

"Our young people are part of the solution not just part of the problem."

ENDS