Council cracking down on “tartan tat”

By Cara Sulieman

COUNCIL chiefs in Edinburgh want to crack down on “tartan tat” shops marring the main tourist street to improve the image of Scotland’s capital.

City of Edinburgh Council revealed plans to clean up the Royal Mile – where it owns most of the shops – by dictating the type of products that can be sold.

It follows concern from local business groups about the growing number of souvenir shops on the iconic road.

Council bosses said that they want to be more proactive in managing the appearance of shops and influencing what they sell.

Tennent’s backs minimum pricing

By Cara Sulieman

THE Scottish Government yesterday toasted a decision by brewing giants Tennent’s to back plans for minimum pricing on alcohol.

But opposition parties said the glass was remained half empty and called on more to be done to tackle the nation’s drink problem.

Tennent’s said the government’s plans “could be part of the solution” to Scotland’s binge drinking culture.

It comes just a day after figures showing the true extent of Scottish schoolchildren’s relationship with alcohol – with 300 under 16 admitted to hospital with booze-related diseases every year.

The Scottish Government welcomed the move by the Glasgow-based beer makers, saying that Tennent’s had “nothing to fear” over the new proposals.