Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has emerged as a 'powerful new weapon in the campaign against the Scottish Government's crackdown on alcohol', says Scotland on Sunday. In a move calculated to pile pressure on ministers, drinks firm Diageo has hired Hamilton to promote its message of encouraging responsible alcohol use rather than the "Draconian" and "blanket" approach of the Government.
The driver told the paper it was better to make people aware of the dangers of alcohol as "no one likes being told what to do".
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has declared war on Scotland's booze culture, proposing to raise the minimum age for buying drink in off-licences from 18 to 21, introduce alcohol-only checkouts in supermarkets, set minimum prices and end two-for-one deals.
There are also plans to make pubs and clubs pay a 'social responsibility fee' for the policing of antisocial behaviour in hotspot areas. The SNP is expected shortly to unveil its final proposals for tackling problem drinking, which is estimated to cost Scotland £2.25bn a year. But the drinks industry and supermarkets are vigorously opposed to many of the proposals and Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker and owner of brands such as Guinness and Smirnoff, has revealed that 24-year-old Hamilton had joined its campaign.
Responsible alcohol usage must be promoted in Scotland, in order for the people to be disciplined when it comes to drinking. The allowable drinking age must also be raised from 18-21 in teens so that alcohol related crimes would be minimized.
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