Retailers join booze crusade

A SCHEME to cut down on under-age drinking and violence in West Lothian pubs is now being extended to retailers.

Following on from the success of Best Bar None for pubs, clubs and nightclubs, The Scottish Business Crime Centre has set up the Safer Retail Award accreditation scheme.

Police, trading standards, and existing community safety partnerships will carry out assessments of premises which elect to take part in the scheme.

They will assess their compliance with selling age restricted items such as alcohol, tobacco, fireworks, knives, knife blades, razor blades, firearms and axes.

Inspector Bob Paris said: "The awards show local traders care about their town."