Adults who buy alcoholic beverages for under age drinkers are to be targeted in a crackdown announced by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. He said the measure wa aimed at: “helping the police effectively tackle those outdoor drinking dens where groups of youngsters are supplied with alcohol by one of their number who is over 18.” “Such situations frequently end with anti-social behaviour and encourage risk taking which can adversely blight many of the participant’s lives.” Mr MacAskill, speaking at the Alcohol Focus Scotland licensing conference in Aviemore, said in response to a request from the police he would introduce an amendment to the Alcohol Bill, making it an offence to supply alcohol to under age drinkers in public places.

Health Boards will be given powers to object to any drinks license under Government plans to enhance Scotland’s struggle against the damaging impact of alcohol related social problems. Read the rest of this entry »

Some of Scotland’s most popular entertainment areas face a ban on any future pubs, clubs or off-sales under ground breaking new plans to be in force by the end of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Police in Perth and Kinross say they have confiscated more than 300 litres of alcohol from under age drinkers over the last few weeks. Officers have also caught several people who bought alcohol for the youngsters, Tayside Police said. The drink was taken during dedicated patrols in the evenings and weekends over the school summer holidays. Sgt Julie Robertson said the under age drinking often led onto other antisocial and criminal behaviour. “Officers will continue to tackle the problems of under age drinking as long as it remains,” she said.

Drink-related crime on the Western Isles has fallen over the last three years, according to the islands’ Alcohol and Drug Partnership. From 1,367 incidents in 2007, the number has dropped to 1,039 at the start of this year. The decrease has been welcomed by the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership, which includes the local council, police and health board. Chairman Angus Campbell said work would continue to reduce the crimes further.

Nicola Sturgeon has made her final attempt to save her plans for alcohol minimum pricing by offering to introduce the measure for a trial period initially. During cross-party talks on Scotland’s binge drinking epidemic, the Health Minister said she was willing to include a sunset clause in legislation introducing a minimum price. The effectiveness of the controversial proposal in reducing drinking levels would be reviewed by MSPs after a few years, and they could then decide whether to persevere with it. But the opposition parties rejected the concession, meaning the plan is all but certain to be rejected when it is brought before the Scottish Parliament for a vote.

Shops and pubs could be banned from selling cheap alcohol in a radical step to tackle Britain’s binge-drinking problem. Read the rest of this entry »

Pubs and clubs could been banned from late night opening because of the impact drunkenness and noise has on the wider community, under new powers for local residents. Read the rest of this entry »

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has again said she will “name the price” of a minimum unit of alcohol next month. Read the rest of this entry »

ASDA’s bid to scrap bargain booze prices has been blasted as ‘not tough enough’. Read the rest of this entry »