Scottish licensees face four weeks of test purchasing

Scottish licensees should prepare for a summer of test purchasing as part of a four-week campaign to stamp out underage drinking during the school holidays.

The crackdown, which will see police use volunteers aged 18 and under to buy alcohol from the on-trade, is part of a wider campaign against alcohol related violence in Scotland.

The campaign will also target the underage sale of alcohol through the on-trade, as well as a crackdown on drink-driving by men aged 17 to 29, and is being spearheaded by Strathclyde Police's Violence Reduction Unit.

Andrew Laing, procurator fiscal for the Highlands and Islands, told the BBC that there was a "clear connection" between alcohol misuse and criminal behaviour.

"Indeed one might go so far as to say that it is rare to come across crimes of violence on our streets which are not associated with alcohol misuse," he said.

Test purchasing in Scotland has come under fire in recent months from the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, after it uncovered flaws in a pilot scheme in Fife.

Flaws uncovered in test purchase pilot >>
Scottish Beer and Pub Association to delay test purchasing of alcohol >>
Licensing Act has had no impact on combating alcohol fuelled violence >>

By Christopher Walton

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