Drinks group funded student body

A KEY player in the drinks industry has admitted providing financial support to the campaigners fighting against Alex Salmond's proposal to ban the sale of alcohol to under-21s.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association provided around £1,000 to the Coalition Against Raising the Drinking Age in Scotland (Cardas), the student-run organisation which argues that the plans would be unworkable and discriminatory.

Yesterday, an SNP spokesman said: "Everyone, including Cardas, should be open and up front about their interests, and make it clear who they are funded by and who they are acting on behalf of – otherwise they are effectively a front organisation. Cardas appear to be funded by and acting for a section of the drinks industry, which is very questionable."

Tom French, from Cardas, said: "We did get money from them. They met an invoice for the posters and leaflets. The majority of our support has come from member organisations but we did ask to get funding for campaign materials. All our decision-making has been done by students."

A spokesman for the Wine and Spirits Trade Association said: "Cardas is a student organisation which shares our objectives on the under-21 issue and we were happy to provide them with support."