Wednesday, 13th January 2010
World Heath Organisation plan to ban duty free alcohol slammed by Euro MP
Scots Tory MEP, Struan Stevenson has slammed proposals by The World Health Organisation (WHO) to ban the sale of duty free alcohol, referring to them as "wrong-headed, clumsy and incompetent".
The shock proposals which will be put before the WHO's full annual General Assembly in May has startled the duty-free industry and caused consternation in Scotland where the whisky sector benefits from massive global duty-free sales. It is estimated that total duty-free alcohol sales were in excess of $6.3bn last year.
Speaking from the European Parliament in Brussels, Struan Stevenson said:
"Once again the anti-alcohol fanatics have got the wrong target in their sights. It is not the travelling public who pass through our airports who are the problem when it comes to alcohol abuse and yet these holidaymakers and business people are the ones who would suffer from a total ban on duty-free sales."
Struan continued:
"European spirit consumption has halved since 1980. Total spirits consumption is certainly not the driver of alcohol related harm. Binge drinking and irresponsible behaviour by many young drinkers are the main cause of alcohol related harm and this should be the area targeted by the authorities, through duty increases on problem drinks like alcopops, strong beer and cider and through better education.
"Introducing a blanket ban on duty free alcohol sales would have a disastrous impact on the Scotch whisky industry and it is alarming that the WHO could be so irresponsible as to make this suggestion, particularly at a time of recession and uncertainty in the jobs market."
The surprise proposal which is contained in a strategy paper looking at ways of reducing alcohol consumption will be discussed at a meeting of the WHO Executive Board, an inner group of health ministers from 34 leading countries, later this month. If approved, the proposal will then be voted on by the 193 governments that make up the WHO General Assembly.
