A campaign aiming to stop the harmful exposure of children to alcohol marketing has been backed by Martin Whitfield MSP.

Mr Whitfield pledged his support to the Alcohol Free Childhood Campaign which aims to end the exposure of children to the advertising and marketing of alcohol.  Organised by Alcohol Focus Scotland, the campaign’s partner organisations include Children in Scotland, BMA Scotland, Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD).

Last year the Scottish Government conducted an alcohol marketing consultation. Following the consultation the government committed to undertake a further public consultation in 2024 on a narrower range of proposals.

In light of the upcoming Programme for Government, the campaign wrote to the First Minister asking him to re-affirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to consult on specific proposals to restrict alcohol marketing before the end of this year.

Mr Whitfield has now joined other campaign supporters in also writing to Mr Swinney and urging him to ensure that the Programme for Government includes these measures.

Martin Whitfield MSP said: 

“Ending exposure to alcohol marketing in childhood is one of the most important steps we can take in reducing the early uptake of alcohol and helping to ensure Scotland’s children and young people have a childhood, and a lifetime, free from alcohol harm.

“I was pleased to join other campaigners in writing to the First Minister and backing the campaign’s call for detailed alcohol marketing consultation plans to be included in this year’s Programme for Government.”