Scottish football bosses warn SNP ministers against ban on alcohol advertising

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Banning alcohol advertising from sport could have "extremely grave" consequences for Scottish football, SNP ministers have been warned.The SFA and SPFL have called on clubs across the country to make their voices heard after a public consultation was launched last week on how to restrict booze promotions in public places.Health campaigners have long called for a clampdown on adverts for beer, wines and spirits being prominently displayed at big sporting events.The Scottish Government is now asking for views on a range of proposals which could effectively see booze banned from billboards in public places and club jerseys.But football bosses have warned such a move could mean an end to major international tournaments such as Euro 2028 being staged in Scotland.Ian Maxwell, SFA chief executive, said: "Scottish football is already restricted by the Criminal Justice Act (1980) which for more than 40 years has prohibited the sale of alcohol within football grounds. "As a consequence, we cannot control consumption levels that take place outside of the stadium bowl and thus cannot be part of a data-led solution."We will contribute to the consultation to ensure a fact-based approach and to highlight the consequences of any legislation being imposed, not just financially, but in potentially being precluded from bidding for major football events, as well as other world-class, international sporting events where alcohol partnerships are an integral part of a diverse sponsorship portfolio."For the avoidance of doubt, the national game remains supportive of responsible drinking campaigns, especially aimed at harmful drinkers, and will continue to use the power of football to promote that responsibility for the benefit of all