ALISON CAMPSIE and GERRY BRAIDEN

Ministers are considering an increase to the age at which people can legally buy alcohol as part of a radical plan to tackle Scotland's binge drinking culture.

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, said yesterday that "cutting edge" legislation could be expected as the government gets a handle on Scotland's "complex" relationship with drink and added that increasing the age of legal purchase from 18 could form part of the plan.

But licensed trade lobbyists have claimed that any move to increase the age would be "PR politics", while health campaigners also believe existing laws could be maximised instead of changing legislation.

Others claim the move would do little more than increase the number of illegal purchases, with predictions of an upsurge of over-21 "agents" buying alcohol on behalf of those under-age, as well as putting drink out of reach for hundreds of thousands of university and college students.

It would bring Scotland into line with the US, Oman, the UAE, Egypt, Ukraine and Pakistan, while the Scandinavian nations have a legal purchasing age of 20.

Ms Robison's remarks come just days after SNP MSP Kenny Gibson lodged a question to ask if the Scottish Government "will consider raising the age at which alcohol can be purchased to 21 years".

According to licensed trade sources, the idea was also mooted by the previous Labour administration but did not get beyond the discussion stage.

Even discussing the idea is also in keeping with SNP policy on alcohol, which is seeking to change the culture of the many rather than addressing solely the problems of the few.

Ms Robison, who announced yesterday that £80m was to be spent on tackling alcohol misuse over the next three years, said: "We have been looking at all the issues such as availability, accessibility and age of purchase.

"These are things being considered. We have to get the public to acknowledge that there is a problem. There will certainly be some challenging proposals to build on."

Ms Robison said that a "robust" response was required to reflect the scale of alcohol-related problems in Scotland.

"It will recognise that as a society we consume too much alcohol, across all socio-economic group and we have been looking at various ways to challenge the culture," she said.

While the contents of the strategy have not yet been finalised, Ms Robison said that a rise in the legal drinking age in Scotland could be possible.

She added: "We would have the power to do that but nothing has been ruled in and nothing has been ruled out."

Dr Maggie Watts, public health consultant and chairperson of the Ayrshire and Arran Alcohol and Drug Action Team, said a rise in the legal drinking age would have a "limited effect" in tackling the problem when introduced in isolation.

She said: "Alcohol is a legal substance. What we need to do is make sure that people know how to use it safely. It's about treating alcohol with respect and educating people on the importance of balancing alcohol against other factors in their lives.

"If you are able to get married at 16 or enlist to die for your country at 16, at what point do you say this is a toxic substance, you can't have it?"

A senior police source whose remit includes addressing underage drinking said he would be "very cautious" over any moves to increase the age limit.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "We want to see much tougher enforcement of the current laws, with stricter penalties including loss of licence for those who break the law by selling to under-18s."