This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Clampdown on underage alcohol sales
02/05/2006
A 12 month alcohol test purchasing pilot involving under-18s is to begin in Fife this summer.
The pilot - to be run by Fife police - will involve 16-17 year olds attempting to buy alcohol at the 900 licensed premises across the region to test whether they are upholding the law.
It aims to trial test purchasing arrangements so that common procedures can be developed for use by other Scottish forces by 2009.
Speaking in Burntisland, Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"This project can make a difference to health improvement and law enforcement.
"Binge drinking is a problem for all age groups - not just the young. But underage drinking is illegal as well as harmful, and it is often associated with anti-social behaviour in our communities.
"Test purchasing will help the police to tackle these problems head-on. Its yardstick for success will not be the number of prosecutions - but how we can reduce underage sales by making off-licences, shops, supermarkets and pubs more aware of their responsibilities.
"We are working to change Scotland's outdated attitudes towards alcohol. This initiative is part of that cultural shift. I look forward to seeing the results on the ground."
Chief Superintendent Andrew Laing, Divisional Commander for Central Division of Fife Police, said:
"Youth disorder and alcohol fuelled antisocial behaviour is the predominant concern of almost every community in Fife so we are obviously delighted to have been selected as the pilot site for Scotland.
"However, law abiding and responsible licensees can be confident that they have nothing to fear from this initiative. The simple message is if you can't tell whether someone is 18 years of age - don't break the law by selling them alcohol."
David Sands, Managing Director of David Sands Ltd. who operate a chain of 20 convenience stores, 14 of which are in Fife, said:
"With many of our stores located at the heart of many communities in Fife, I am well aware of the problems associated with under age drinking. There is no doubt that many youngsters are getting alcohol illegally and I personally welcome the introduction of test purchasing.
"As licence holders we have a responsibility to the communities in Fife and the message I'll be giving my staff is quite clear - if you can't tell if someone is 18 years of age, don't sell them alcohol."
The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 allows for the test purchasing of alcohol providing the primacy of the welfare of children and young people is addressed. Before the relevant provisions of the Act are generally commenced (likely to be in 2009), it was agreed that a pilot project would be undertaken. This would allow common procedures and operating protocols to be developed and so ensure that test purchasing could be carried out safely, fairly and effectively.
An Enforcement Advisory Group is overseeing arrangements for the pilot. This includes the relevant Scottish Executive policy teams, and representatives from COSLA, the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards, ACPOS, Crown Office, Alcohol Focus Scotland, Scottish Retail Consortium and the Licensed Trade. The pilot will be fully evaluated in summer 2007.
A Protocol agreed by Fife Police and the Enforcement Advisory Group sets out how the test purchasing scheme will operate, and the safeguards in place to protect the young people authorised by the Chief Constable to do so. This includes: direct supervision by police officers at all times, specific training for officers involved in such operations, a model agreement with the young person and written parental consent. All the young people involved will look their age and will be required to tell the truth if asked any questions about their age.
Should the licensee and/or the employee fail the test by supplying alcohol to the test purchaser, the police officers will charge them with the relevant offence(s) and submit a police report for the attention of the Procurator Fiscal and Local Licensing Board. No statistical data about breaches of the law will be released until the pilot has been evaluated.