Scotland bids to end alcohol and crime link

The Scottish Executive has published a new Licensing Bill designed to break the link between binge drinking and crime.

There will be a statutory presumption against 24-hour opening, a requirement on all licenses to operate on a no-proof no-sale basis to tackle underage drinking, and a crackdown on promotional activities. It would require all drinks to be sold at the same price for 48 hours and ban the two-for-one deals the Executive believes encourage binge and speed drinking.

Tavish Scott, Deputy Finance Minister, said: “The annual cost of alcohol misuse on the NHS in Scotland was £110.5 million and the total cost to Scottish society is estimated to be £1.1 billion.

“Those shocking statistics illustrate exactly why doing nothing is simply not an option – alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour is a real and visible problem across Scotland and must be tackled. That is why we are taking immediate and sustained action for the long-term.”