SBPA welcomes alcohol test purchasing

May 3, 2006: The Scottish Beer and Pub Association says responsible retailers have nothing to fear from a pilot test purchasing scheme in Fife which aims to tackle under-age drinking.

The Scottish Executive announced the plan yesterday, with police running a project which will see 16 and 17 year olds attempting to buy alcohol in some 900 premises within the region.

Patrick Browne, chief executive of the SBPA, said his group would be continuing a dialogue with the executive to discuss how licensees can be reminded of their obligations under the law.

"The fact that the Executive are proceeding with a pilot scheme in Fife prior to the introduction of full test purchasing will be welcomed by the trade and
should give the industry time to adjust to the new 'no proof no sale'
requirements under the new Licensing (Scotland) Act.

"It should be noted, however, that Scottish police forces already detect a large number of offences involving the sale of alcohol to minors by licensees and these are dealt with either through the courts and/or more commonly by having offences reported to licensing boards who then impose their own sanctions on the licensee."

Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said the yardstick for the pilot's success would not be the number of prosecutions but how awareness of the licensing laws is approved among those retailing alcohol.

Chief Superintendent Andrew Laing, Divisional Commander for the Central Division of Fife Police, said: "Youth disorder and alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour is the predominant concern of almost every community in Fife so we are obviously delighted to have been selected as the pilot site for Scotland.

"However, law-abiding and responsible licensees can be confident that they have nothing to fear from this initiative. The simple message is if you can't tell whether someone is 18 years of age don't break the law by selling them alcohol."