3. Attitudes and Culture
MSPs also highlighted the need to address the causes of alcohol misuse as well as its effects: unless the drinking culture within Scotland is changed then the problem of alcohol misuse will never be tackled successfully. To change things for the better will take nothing less than a wholesale change in the culture of drinking in Scotland, in which heavy and binge drinking are socially acceptable. This includes getting the right message across to under-age drinkers who view getting drunk as a rite of passage (a situation which is not helped by advertising that displays alcohol as attractive and glamorous). Comparisons were made with Mediterranean countries where under-age drinking and the accompanying problems are much less prevalent, even though the age limit to purchase and consume alcohol is several years lower. It was felt that by changing the licensing system cultural attitudes could be changed within the law. Concern was also expressed about the inconsistency of messages about alcohol.

4. Member's/Committee Bill
Donald Gorrie suggested a Member's Bill on the issue in order to offer a quick improvement. and Richard Simpson thought that it could go forward as a Committee Bill as it had widespread cross-party support. But no action has been taken on this as yet. Tommy Sheridan has tabled a motion challenging newspapers to "show their sincere commitment to prolonging the lives of Scottish citizens" by refusing advertising "from society's biggest drug dealers, namely the tobacco and alcohol industries", and calling for a comprehensive ban on such advertising.

Responding to the consultation
The consultation questions appear as an insert in this briefing paper.

Theological and Church Context
Attitudes to alcohol in Scotland's churches clearly vary from strict principled teetotalism to a more liberal "relaxed" approach to drinking. Both find Biblical justification, and each has its dangers - from charges of self-righteousness or even hypocrisy in the former, to a failure to take the painful effects of this drug seriously in the latter. In a sense, this could be a "no win" situation for churches to get involved in making pronouncements. A desire to avoid sounding sanctimonious or out of touch might inhibit us from saying anything which may (and probably will) be misconstrued into a caricature of Holy Willie; but we have a constructive contribution to make that is about more than our own image.