Scotland’s alcohol and drugs policy minister Elena Whitham has said a controversial ban on the advertisement of alcohol, shelved earlier this year, is not to be ruled out.
In response to being asked whether Scotland could still be subjected to a ban on alcoholic advertising, the minister replied, “We don’t know what that’s going to look like.
“I think we have to look and see what the evaluation of the responses tells us and then make a move from there,” Whitham added.
First minister Humza Yousaf, the minister said, reiterated his commitment to tackling alcohol harm by recently meeting with stakeholders.
“(He) was quite frank in his statements with regards to marketing that we need to make sure that we reduce the harm to young people and that sometimes marketing can drive that.”
The latest announcement follows in the wake of first minister Yousaf saying in his inaugural speech in the role earlier this year, that his government would go “back to the drawing board” on the issue.
The new restrictions could include the promotion of alcohol in-store, meaning retailers would have to adjust the position of their alcoholic products to be obscured.
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The initial talks sparked outrage from retailers and producers, angry at the potential effect of the proposals on their business.
Critics called the move ‘unjustified, claiming it would force the Scottish drinks industry to ‘re-brand’ while having a direct impact on bars, pubs and hotel owners.
Others pointed to a recent report by thinktank Institute of Economic Affairs, that suggested there was ‘little evidence’ that the alcohol advert ban would cut drinking.
The UK already has established advertising guidelines around the promotion of alcohol in campaigns.
Both the advertising watchdog Advertising Standard’s Authority and the communications regulator Ofcom have put in place legislation that prevents the glorification of the consumption of alcohol.
Among other rules, the ASA added, “Adverts should not link the consumption of alcohol to increased popularity, sexual success, confidence, sporting achievements or mental performance, nor portray drinking as a challenge or with tough or daring behaviour”.
This is not the first UK drink industry advertising restriction to be considered. In 2019 Transport for London (TfL) introduced a ban on advertising foods and drinks high in fats, sugars and salts (HFSS) in its network, in a bid to tackle child obesity.
While the initial HFSS measures proposed by the government were ultimately pushed back to 2025, other local authorities and national retailers were quick to implement their advertising restrictions.
