No think again! Did you hear us loud and clear!

Over the last few months we have been campaigning alongside CARDAS (Coalition Against Raising Drinking Age Scotland) to stop the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce a ban on serving alcoholic drinks to under 21s from off licenses.

NUS Scotland, alongside the Scottish Youth Parliament, various youth groups, and people from within the licensed industry, presented a petition of 10,000 signatures to the Public Petitions Committee in Holyrood. With support from all the opposition parties, together we reminded the government it was in the minority.

For me, this is a real result because it shows us we have the ability to bring change and have influence if we work collectively.

It would be fair to say that no one campaigning against raising the drinking age is against tacking the booze culture that exists. Raising the age to 21 in off licenses will simply not do anything about the embedded problem that runs right through our society, not just between the ages of 18 – 21. If the government wants to do something about it they have to get to the root of the problem, not criminalise behaviour in a way which is discriminatory towards young people.

Who is to say that 20 year old students that also have a part time job, and work every hour god sends alongside college or university work, can’t go into a shop and buy a bottle of wine to enjoy in the comfort of their own home?

Why shouldn’t young people that go out and fight for their country on the front line be able to buy some drinks with their weekly shopping when they return to their families?

And why should young people that under the current law are able to own a pub in Scotland at the age of 18, not be able to buy alcohol to stock it?

Why are those young people who are not responsible enough to enjoy alcohol sensibly regarded responsible enough to get married, own property and have kids?

Why?... There were no real comebacks! Even the pilot projects carried out were proven to be inconclusive.

The plans were ill thought out from the start; however, the government were not for listening. A massive rally of the coalition, with students from all over Scotland, from all political backgrounds, got together to voice their opinion against raising the age to 21.

Inside Parliament, the Tories put forward a motion to shoot down the SNP led plans. Labour, Lib Dems, Greens, and independent - Margo Macdonald, all supported them. It was remarkable both to see all the parties uniting on a single issue, and the Tories working with NUS. It’s amazing how things change. I think that we can only gain by working with all parties in Scotland. By doing so we will continue to make sure that we hold the government to account.

SO, what next is the question? Will the SNP government listen to the will of parliament as promised, or will they continue to go ahead with these ridiculous plans?

I urge them to go back to the drawing board, and involve the young society of Scotland as part of the solution, rather than the problem. Instead of criminalising what can be perfectly responsible behaviour, enforce the current laws to tackle underage drinking!

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