A FORMER MSP whose rejected alcohol bill would have cracked down on caffeinated alcoholic beverages said it was "bizarre" to celebrate a Buckfast Day.
Dr Richard Simpson, a former GP and psychiatrist who stood down as Labour MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife at the end of the last parliament, hit out at plans to celebrate the cult tonic wine with a second 'National Buckfast Day' tomorrow [sat].
Dr Simpson said: "To have an international Buckfast day is bizarre. It is irresponsible and there is no reason to do it.
"It is a drink primarily used by young men n who want to get completely out of their minds drunk. But they become wide awake drunks and that can lead to problems.
"Research in US colleges on similar drinks found people were more likely to drive when drunk and young women more likely to get involved in sexual activity which they later regretted. Men were likely to be more aggressive.
“Buckfast is very much a West of Scotland problem of course. In the East and North East people don’t consume it in the way they do in the west so it is basically a social thing."
Dr Simpson had proposed an Alcohol Bill including specific restrictions on alcoholic drinks, including Buckfast, which are fortified with caffeine. The beverage has long been associated with aggressive and antisocial behaviour in the west of Scotland, but the Bill was rejected by the Scottish Government and Holyrood's health committee amid concerns it would be unworkable.
Dr Simpson said he was concerned that minimum pricing legislation will not impact on Buckfast.
He said: "It won’t be affected by minimum pricing, so I was proposing a limitation on the amount of caffeine in alcoholic drinks.
"American research led to the FDA demanding producers prove it is safe, but producers all stopped producing such drinks, effectively.
"Denmark has limited them to 150mg a litre –about a third of the caffeine content Buckfast currently has."
Buckfast Day organiser, Mark Onk, is urging fans of the drink around the world to enjoy it tomorrow.
Around 25,000 took part in Buckfast Day celebrations last year.
Mr Onk said: “Some Scottish politicians wanted to ban Bucky blaming it on anti-social behaviour. This clearly shows how Buckfast can bring people together."
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