Charges for booze sales to teens in city double

THE number of licensed premises charged by police with selling alcohol to under-18s in Edinburgh doubled last year as officers cracked down on illegal sales.

A total of 38 offences were recorded in the Capital between April 2008 and March last year, compared with just 19 for the same period in the previous year.

The force has mounted a series of stings targeting off-sales which let youngsters buy alcohol.

Test purchasing, where under-18s are sent to premises to try to catch out staff, have led to a number of charges being brought.

Gavin Brown, Lothians Tory MSP, said: "The number of licensed premises in Edinburgh selling alcohol to people under age is very concerning. Much of the trouble in communities is caused by underage drinking. Licensed grocers have a serious responsibility to be vigilant when it comes to the sale of alcohol but these figures suggest that for many in the city, this is not the case.

"It is important that police and licensing boards come down harder on premises that sell alcohol to people under age."

The latest figures, which cover charges brought against pubs, clubs or off-licences, were revealed by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill in an answer to a parliamentary question.

But figures from last May showed that fewer than a quarter of Edinburgh shop and bar staff accused of selling drink to under-18s end up being prosecuted.

Police had recorded a total of 288 charges of illegal sales of alcohol over the last five years but only 62 cases reached the courts.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, called for more prosecutions to be brought. He said: "Alcohol Focus Scotland is very concerned with the recent figures that show a huge rise in the number of offences recorded by the police in the Lothians, in which licensed premises have sold alcohol to a person under 18.

"The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires personal licence holders and their staff to complete compulsory training on licensing issues that includes protecting children from the dangers of underage drinking. Licence holders and staff serving to under-18s should be prosecuted."

The force launched its test purchasing scheme in May 2008, when 16-year-old volunteers were recruited to go into off-licences and try to buy drink. Last week, Easter Road wine specialist Cornelius had its licence suspended for two weeks by licensing leaders after twice failing a test purchasing blitz by police.

A police spokesman said: "The force employs a range of enforcement and education activity to address alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, including test purchasing, which has proved an effective means of identifying licensees selling alcohol to under-18s, while acting as a deterrent to prevent further illegal sales."