| Shona Robison visited Cupar to hear about the success of the six-week pilot scheme which comes into force on Friday and Saturday evenings and has led to a dramatic reduction in anti-social crimes which are down by almost 60%.
And she said she would be looking at the results of the initiative led by Fife Constabulary and supported by off-sales traders.
Raising the legal age for purchasing alcohol to 21 is just one of several Scottish Government proposals. Others include setting minimum prices and a social responsibility fee for some retailers.
At Cupar’s Central Cafe — one of the premises participating in the trial, which ends on August 2 — Ms Robison said, “I am very impressed with the scheme.
“Having spoken to some of the community, they are saying very much that they have recognised a reduction in youths hanging about with drink and that makes them feel safer.”
The booze ban — which follows a similar scheme in Armadale in West Lothian — is aimed at preventing the supply of alcohol to those under the age of 18 by friends who are over 18. Only one report of anti-social behaviour was received by police last weekend, compared to 50 in a weekend before the restriction was introduced.
Ms Robison said, “There is evidence those who are under 18 and were getting access to alcohol are getting that supply cut off.
“I think there are huge long-term health benefits from cutting down on alcohol intake and, for young people, delaying the age at which they start drinking regularly in order to develop a more mature relationship with alcohol.
“What this pilot shows is that when the police, retailers and residents work together we can have a huge impact on anti-social behaviour for the good of the whole community.
“This is not the only solution and it’s not the magic pill which is going to transform our alcohol use overnight.”
But she added, “I’m very persuaded by the evidence here and in Armadale that this is an important part of the strategy.”
The under-21 alcohol sales ban in Cupar and Springfield was launched at the end of June. Every local off-sales licensee has signed up to it on a voluntary basis.
Inspector Craig Dewar said it was devised to tackle the problem with underage drinking and youth-related disorder in Cupar.
He added, “The success of the scheme is primarily due to the support of retailers in Cupar and Springfield, who have been 100 per cent behind it.”
Groups of youths were hanging around outside the Central Cafe, in Cupar’s Crossgate, but owner Paul Caira said he had noticed a real difference since the ban.
He said, “Now there are hardly any young people hanging around on the streets and the ones you do see are not under the influence.”
Councillor Andrew Rodger, chairman of Fife Council’s licensing board, echoed praise for the scheme.
He said, “It’s terrific to see it has been such a success.”
Enforcement of proposed legislation stopping young adults aged 1820 from buying booze over the Internet would be unworkable, Dundeebased MSP Marlyn Glen said today.
She said successful enforcement would require a “disproportionate use of police resources that the public rightly expects to be devoted to much more important issues”.
Ms Glen added the legislation changes wouldn’t stop underage drinkers getting their hands on booze.
Under Scottish Government plans, 18 to 20yearolds will be stopped from getting alcohol delivered to their front door if the minimum age for the purchase of offsales rises to 21.
Although over18s would still be able to drink in a pub, they would not be allowed to buy drink over the counter or online from shops and supermarkets until 21.
Raising the offsales alcohol age to 21 is just one of the Government’s proposals to tackle alcohol misuse, which costs Scotland more than £2.25 billion a year.
Ms Glen asked Public Health Minister Shona Robison if 18 to 20yearolds who currently purchase alcohol online through supermarket direct delivery services will still be allowed to do so if the legislation changes after current consultation.
Ms Glen also asked how such a proposal, if carried forward into law, would be enforced.
Ms Robison replied, “It is likely that enforcement would proceed by amendment of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 which already makes it an offence for someone to deliver, or allow to be delivered, alcohol to persons under 18. This provision of the Act will come into force on September 1, 2009.”
Ms Robison added the Wine and Spirit Trade Association had announced it had agreed a deal with verification specialists to help member companies check customer age and identity details.
The deal is designed for companies that sell via phone, online and mailorder to reduce fraudulent purchasing.
It’s thought the Government has been influenced by the example of Sweden, where the limit for offsales is 20, two years more than the bars and pubs limit.
Ms Glen, who opposes the raising of the minimum age to 21 said, “Raising the minimum age to 21 for offsales purchase will penalise responsible young adults who purchase online and drink sensibly. It would not make it any more difficult for underage youngsters and binge drinkers to get alcohol.”
It is also expected the Government action plan could include minimum prices for alcohol and proposals to clamp down on cutprice promotions, such as three for the price of two deals.
The Scottish Retail Consortium said the government would be sending out a mixed message on alcohol if it allowed 18 to 21yearolds to buy booze in pubs and clubs but not in offsales.
There are also warnings a different age limit in Scotland would see alcohol being brought up from England by under21s. |
