SMITH CAMPAIGNS AGAINST SNP PLANS TO RAISE PURCHASE AGE FOR ALCOHOL

11.50.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Oct 2008

Iain Smith MSP, Scottish Lib Dem Leader Tavish Scott MSP and Hugh O'Donnell MSP at the CARDAS protest at the Scottish Parliament

Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife, Iain Smith attended a protest outside the Scottish Parliament today, campaigning against the Scottish Government's plans to raise the legal age for buying alcohol to 21.

Liberal Democrats were the first political party to oppose these plans and the party is campaigning hard to keep the purchase age at 18.

Commenting, Iain Smith said:

"Liberal Democrats were the first to oppose the Scottish Government's plans to raise the purchase age for alcohol to 21.

"Under the SNP's plans, some young people won't be able to buy a bottle, but they can have a ballot and a gun to fight for their country.

"Although there is general consensus that the Government must take action to tackle alcohol abuse, demonising a whole generation of young people as irresponsible drinkers is not the answer.

"These plans would mean that a 20 year-old willing to risk his or her life for their country could go to the pub to celebrate returning safely, but not buy a bottle of wine.

"Young people in here in North east Fife should be part of the solution, not just part of the problem. Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament will continue to campaign against these ludicrous plans."

Tom French, Coordinator of CARDAS, who organized today's protest added:

"We very much welcome the ongoing support of the Liberal Democrats in opposing this daft and discriminatory proposal.

"With such a wealth of evidence now clearly highlighting that raising the minimum purchase age will not help tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland, it is about time that the Scottish Government listened to the overwhelming opposition in the Parliament and among the people and dropped these proposals."