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| Ex-FM calls for end to alcohol adverts in sport | Ex-FM calls for end to alcohol adverts in sport |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Henry McLeish is calling for an end to alcohol sponsorship in Scottish football | Henry McLeish is calling for an end to alcohol sponsorship in Scottish football |
| Former First Minister Henry McLeish has urged the Scottish government to end alcohol advertising in sports. | Former First Minister Henry McLeish has urged the Scottish government to end alcohol advertising in sports. |
| New research found the country has more drink-related adverts in top level football than most European leagues. | New research found the country has more drink-related adverts in top level football than most European leagues. |
| Half of the country's premiership teams have at least one alcohol company as a main sponsor or partner. | Half of the country's premiership teams have at least one alcohol company as a main sponsor or partner. |
| The Scottish government confirmed a public consultation on possible restrictions to alcohol advertising and promotion will be launched soon. | The Scottish government confirmed a public consultation on possible restrictions to alcohol advertising and promotion will be launched soon. |
| Mr McLeish's intervention comes after the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (Shaap) found only Belgium had a higher proportion of such adverts than Scotland. | Mr McLeish's intervention comes after the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (Shaap) found only Belgium had a higher proportion of such adverts than Scotland. |
| The latest headlines from Scotland | The latest headlines from Scotland |
| The group, which represents health professionals in Scotland, has launched a new campaign, Calling Time, which advocates a ban on alcohol sponsorship to tackle the problem. | The group, which represents health professionals in Scotland, has launched a new campaign, Calling Time, which advocates a ban on alcohol sponsorship to tackle the problem. |
| Mr McLeish, who carried out a major review of Scottish football in 2010, said the "very special and unique" commitment shown by supporters to their clubs was "being capitalised on by the alcohol industry". | Mr McLeish, who carried out a major review of Scottish football in 2010, said the "very special and unique" commitment shown by supporters to their clubs was "being capitalised on by the alcohol industry". |
| The ex-professional footballer, who was first minister from 2000 to 2001, added: "We must find a better way to finance Scottish football, finding sponsors with values that align with sports and community, and that's why I support today's call for a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sports." | |
| Shaap chairman Dr Alastair MacGilchrist called on the Scottish government to protect public health and "break the bond between alcohol and sport" by banning such sponsorship. | Shaap chairman Dr Alastair MacGilchrist called on the Scottish government to protect public health and "break the bond between alcohol and sport" by banning such sponsorship. |
| He said the deals provided alcohol companies with a very appealing way of reaching a large audience. | He said the deals provided alcohol companies with a very appealing way of reaching a large audience. |
| Shaap found that this could influence how much and how often fans consume alcohol. | Shaap found that this could influence how much and how often fans consume alcohol. |
| The research from the University of Stirling found that 6.4% of sponsorship in Scottish football was from the alcohol industry - higher than the 2.6% average across all 10 countries investigated. | The research from the University of Stirling found that 6.4% of sponsorship in Scottish football was from the alcohol industry - higher than the 2.6% average across all 10 countries investigated. |
| Alcohol marketing and sport sponsorship is currently self-regulated in Scotland and the rest of the UK. | Alcohol marketing and sport sponsorship is currently self-regulated in Scotland and the rest of the UK. |
| Shaap said countries with more advertising restrictions have comparatively less alcohol sponsorship in their top clubs. | Shaap said countries with more advertising restrictions have comparatively less alcohol sponsorship in their top clubs. |
| 'Completely unacceptable' | 'Completely unacceptable' |
| Tom Bennett, from the Scottish Recovery Consortium, said self-regulation was not working. | Tom Bennett, from the Scottish Recovery Consortium, said self-regulation was not working. |
| He added: "Sponsorship is triggering and makes us drink - and it's extremely effective - that's why the industry invest so much money in it. | He added: "Sponsorship is triggering and makes us drink - and it's extremely effective - that's why the industry invest so much money in it. |
| "Sports sponsorship sends completely the wrong message, especially to our children, that healthy activity is associated with alcohol. | "Sports sponsorship sends completely the wrong message, especially to our children, that healthy activity is associated with alcohol. |
| "It's completely unacceptable that people are bombarded with alcohol sponsorship when attending their favourite sports events." | "It's completely unacceptable that people are bombarded with alcohol sponsorship when attending their favourite sports events." |
| A Scottish government spokesman said: "We would encourage sporting organisations to diversify sponsorship away from the alcohol industry because it encourages young people to drink alcohol and can have a detrimental impact on those in recovery from problem drinking. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "We would encourage sporting organisations to diversify sponsorship away from the alcohol industry because it encourages young people to drink alcohol and can have a detrimental impact on those in recovery from problem drinking. |
| "We will shortly issue a public consultation setting out potential restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland." | "We will shortly issue a public consultation setting out potential restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland." |