Town bans drink sales to under-21s

Published on Friday 28 March 2008 21:24

A SMALL Scottish town last night became the first in the country to ban alcohol sales to under-21s in a bid to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.

Every off-licence in Armadale, West Lothian, has signed up for a six-week pilot scheme, which will run between 5pm and 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

But the move has been attacked by the grocery industry and alcohol campaigners, who called instead for better enforcement of existing legislation.

The six-week scheme has been developed by Lothian and Borders Police, West Lothian Council and the 11 shops which sell alcohol in the town. Retailers have agreed to ask for identification from customers who appear to be aged 25 and under.

Constable Phillip McIntosh of the Safer Neighbourhoods team, said: "Youth disorder is often linked to alcohol, and Armadale is no different to any other town in Scotland.

"Our intention is not only to limit under-age access to alcohol but to educate those who may have been involved in supplying alcohol to children.

"But Colin Landsburgh, president of the Scottish Grocers Foundation, called instead for a national proof-of-age card to be used by people who want to buy products with age restrictions.

He said: "Rather than launching voluntary bans in pockets across the country, I would like more robust enforcement of the current legislation.

" In Cleveland (in the north of England] where a similar ban was introduced, the initiative was supported by an increase in police presence which I would suggest contributed significantly to its success."

Mr Landsburgh added that an effective ban would need to involve pubs and clubs as well as shops and claimed "responsible retailers" already asked for proof of age.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, the national charity for alcohol-related issues, said:

"We want to see much tougher enforcement of current laws, with stricter penalties including loss of licence for those selling to under 18s.

"At the end of the six-week trial in Armadale, the council plans to assess the results before deciding whether or not to roll it out across the area.