'Extreme': Clynelish Distillery operators Diageo slam Scottish Government's proposed alcohol advertising ban
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Drinks giant Diageo, which operates Clynelish Distillery in Brora, has spoken out strongly against the Scottish Government’s proposed ban on alcohol advertising.
A spokesman for the company, which also runs Glen Ord Distillery in Muir of Ord, slammed the suggested advertising ban as “extreme” and said it would do nothing to address alcohol harm, but would simply undermine efforts to attract tourism and investment.
The Scottish Government launched a consultation on November 17 last year on “Restricting alcohol advertising and promotion”, which proposes limiting advertising of alcohol on television, in newspapers and magazines, on outdoor billboards, through sports and events sponsorship, and through branded merchandise online.
The aim is to reduce alcohol consumption across the population, in order to reduce the risk of alcohol related illnesses.
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, MSP, Maree Todd, the Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, said at the time of the launch: “Scotland has a deep, long-standing and troubled relationship with alcohol...... alcohol-related harm is one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland.”
Ms Todd pointed out that many European countries, including Ireland, France and Norway, had already restricted alcohol marketing.
Diageo is part of a coalition of more than 100 drinks producers and brands active in Scotland who recently signed an open letter to the Scottish Government calling on it to drop the proposals.
The letter states that the plans could not have come at a “worse time for the sector and the many thousands of people we employ”.
The Diageo spokesman pointed out the benefit to Scotland of its investment in whisky tourism – the company opened its new Highland Home of Johnnie Walker visitors’ experience at Clynelish Distillery in April 2021 following a multi-million redevelopment. The site’s renovation was part of a wider investment by Diageo into sustainable tourism at its network of visitor centres.
“Our £185 million investment in Scotch whisky tourism has created new jobs, added economic benefit and helps promote Scotland to the world,” said the spokesman.
“These extreme proposals do nothing to address alcohol harm, they simply undermine efforts to attract tourism and investment.
“We want to work constructively with the Scottish Government to find effective ways of tackling alcohol misuse that don’t undermine the unique economic, cultural and community contribution our industry makes to Scotland.”
The Scottish Government is inviting people to respond to the consultation by a deadline of Thursday, March 9, online at https://consult.gov.scot/alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertising-and-promotion
Responses will be made available to the public.
