Question reference: S6W-21504
- Date lodged: 20 September 2023
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 4 October 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to allowing bodies that receive funding from the alcohol industry to be involved in any programme of substance use education and prevention in schools and broader settings.
Answer
The Scottish Government will not work with the alcohol industry on provision of education in schools. Our wider approach to joint work with the industry will be based on the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, which recognises industry’s role as developers, producers, distributors, marketers and sellers of alcohol products.
Instead, the Scottish Government is committed to taking forward substance use education work in our schools through Curriculum for Excellence. Children and young people learn about a variety of substances including alcohol, medicines, drugs, tobacco and solvents. They will explore the impact risk taking behaviour has on life choices and health.