Whisky expert shocked at 'ignorant' Scottish Government review on alcohol advertising

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A top whisky expert has slammed a Scottish Government report which described alcoholic drinks as "essentially variations of the same thing".Blair Bowman, a consultant and writer on Scotch whisky, said his colleagues in the industry had been left "absolutely shocked" by the comments.The remarks were published in a consultation paper as SNP ministers consider whether to launch a crack down on alcohol advertising across the country.Health campaigners have long called for an end to brewers and distillers using high-profile sporting and cultural events to market their products.Another option under consideration is a total ban on alcohol promotions in public places - which would prevent drinks being advertised on billboards or at transport hubs.But the language used in the report shocked Bowman who told the Record it risked harming the country's whisky industry.He is now urging members of the public to have their say before the consultation closes on March 9.The report said: "Fundamentally, marketing is about persuasion and aiming to direct people into desired action.

Without branding and other marketing strategies, alcohol products in each beverage sub-sector are essentially variations of the same thing."Bowman said: "I've received messages from contacts of mine in the whisky industry in Japan, China, Australia, Argentina, USA who are all absolutely shocked that the Scottish Government would do something like this to their national drink."They were stunned to read the proposals. "I was shocked by how far the proposals are looking to go.

but I think many distillers and brewers would be deeply hurt to read the part that says that if you remove branding all subcategories of alcohol are essentially the same thing. "That sweeping