A Scottish government plan to allow local "licensing boards" to increase the minimum age at which young people can buy alcohol from off-licences has been blocked by opposition MSPs.
This is the second blow inside a week for the SNP's Alcohol Bill after MSPs earlier blocked the introduction of minimum pricing on alcohol.
Opposition MSPs argued allowing local licensing boards to ban off-licence sales to under-21s discriminated against young people.
Labour's Dr Richard Simpson MSP also highlighted that teenagers could easily get around a ban in one area by travelling to neighbouring areas without bans.
He added: "It's unfair if young people are only able to consume alcohol in a pub or restaurant but cannot buy a bottle of wine to have at home while watching the television.
"We're all aware of binge drinking being a problem for some young people but this can't be tackled by discriminating against all young people, even in a specific area."
Liam Burns, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, was also glad the minimum age provision has been blocked.
He said: "It seems totally wrong that someone can vote, pay taxes and bring up a family but not buy alcohol for their own home."
SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said she was disappointed the opposition voted against the Bill but said: "We should not see any particular initiative as a magic bullet -- we need a strong package of measures. That initiative was simply another tool in the box."
Links:
- Under-21 alcohol ban bid overturned (Press Association)
- Alcohol age rise plan rejected (BBC News)
- Scots to set minimum price for alcoholic drinks; rest of UK to follow? (The Solicitor)
- Consumer law (Findlaw.co.uk)
- Find a solicitor (Contact Law)
