Nicola Sturgeon's alcohol gaffe distracts from central question of Section 35 and gender Bill row

In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, the First Minister clumsily defended the changes to gender recognition by referring to the legal drinking age in pubs for teenagers.
Conor Matchett
By Conor Matchett
Published 23rd Jan 2023, 13:57 BST
Updated 23rd Jan 2023, 13:59 BST
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It was clumsy, not just because of the later row-back on Twitter where she confirmed she did not favour a change in the existing drinking rules, but because it was a trap neatly set by the interviewer.

Why does the legal drinking age matter when discussing transgender rights? Well, it offers opponents to gender reform an opportunity to point at the fact 16 and 17-year-olds can’t drink in the pub, but can change their gender under Scottish plans.

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