Commenting on the First Minister’s posturing about whether opposition parties had responded to the Government's consultation on banning under 21s from purchasing alcohol in off-licences, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Mike Rumbles MSP said:

“The First Minister is clutching at straws. As he well knows, plenty of ‘essential’ consultations have passed by without an SNP response.

“If the First Minister is that keen to hear our response to his alcohol proposal, then he should drop into the chamber at 5.00 today. We’ll be sending the Government a strong message, from the floor of the chamber, which is after all the traditional means of communication for elected MSPs.”