Family members and friends affected by a loved one’s drinking have published an open letter to Humza Yousaf, First Minister, urging him not to backtrack on the Scottish Government’s longstanding pledge to tackle alcohol marketing.
137 family members and friends have signed the letter, from the Highlands to Dumfries and Galloway. They express their shock that the First Minister has asked his officials to take long-awaited proposals “back to the drawing board” due to alcohol industry concerns – ignoring the concerns of those most affected.
The Scottish Government announced plans to address alcohol marketing in November 2018, however a consultation on this matter was not published until November 2022, closing in March 2023. On 18 April 2023, the First Minister announced “a fresh look at this issue” following active lobbying by the alcohol industry.
The signatories of the letter, who come from all corners of Scotland and all walks of life, share that they live every day with the impact of their loved one’s drinking, including those still actively using alcohol, in recovery, or where they have died.
The family members and friends recognise that alcohol marketing aims to encourage over-consumption, with industry profits relying on people drinking too much, too often. They emphasise that we do not even need to consult before restricting marketing – as it is already recognised by the World Health Organisation as one of the three ‘best buys’ to reduce alcohol harm, along with pricing and availability.
Having seen and heard the alcohol industry’s vocal response to the Scottish Government’s proposals to restrict marketing, the signatories state:
“However we also have a voice and we need to be heard. We do not have the power or influence of the alcohol industry, we do not have an army of lobbyists or a multi-million pound PR machine to amplify our voices. Our daily lives are shaped by chaos, exhaustion, disappointment, grief and loss. We do not have the time, energy or resources to compete with the industry. But you have let our voice be drowned out by those with money, power and influence.
We need you to hear us and to hear our stories. We matter too – our families matter, our communities matter. In the past four years, since the Scottish Government publicly committed to tackling alcohol marketing, over 4,500 more people in Scotland have died directly through alcohol. They include our family members, our friends, our colleagues, our loved ones. How many more people will die, how many more lives shattered, how many more families destroyed before you hear our voice?”
Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families, who helped coordinate the letter on behalf of the signatories, said:
“During the alcohol marketing consultation, the then Minister for Public Health, Maree Todd, made a commitment to me in person, that families’ voices and experiences would have as much weight as industry voices. She recognised that families are less able to participate in these processes, given the chaos and exhaustion of living with alcohol harm every day.
However to my knowledge, the First Minister has not spoken to a single person affected by a loved one’s drinking before deciding to backtrack on this longstanding commitment to finally address Scotland’s ‘Alcohol Everywhere’ culture. It is beyond disappointing that once again, loud alcohol industry voices, in search of greater and greater profits, have silenced those most affected by Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol – children, young people and adults whose lives have been destroyed.”
The full letter and list of 137 signatories can be read here.
The open letter is still open for further signatures on this form.