Dr Evelyn Gillan, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said “We applaud Glasgow Licensing Board’s courageous decision to refuse applications to six supermarkets to expand store space so they can sell more alcohol.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires Boards to consider the protection and improvement of public health when deciding whether or not to approve licences. There is good evidence that increasing the availability of alcohol leads to an increase in health and social harm. Glasgow has one of the highest number of alcohol related deaths in the UK. The Licensing Board are rightly taking the view that allowing supermarkets more space to sell alcohol can only make a bad situation worse.

 It is extremely worrying that the supermarkets – who are the biggest offenders of irresponsible promotions – are threatening Glasgow Licensing Board with  legal action when the Board is simply following the spirit of the law and putting public health first. I hope other Licensing Boards in Scotland will follow the example set by Glasgow and will not be intimidated by threats from big supermarkets. Scotland can improve its relationship with alcohol and limiting availability in supermarkets is a positive step in the right direction.”

Their research has shown that every minute of the working day a shopworker is verbally abused, threatened with violence or physically attacked. Age-restricted sales, particularly where alcohol is involved, are often a flashpoint for abuse. Further information can be found at www.usdaw.org.uk

Police bid to tackle under-age drinking

Boy, 14, may have died if not found

From the Press & Journal newspaper, Published: 31/03/2010

A 14-YEAR-old under the influence of alcohol was among the first to become involved in a scheme being tested in the far north to combat under-age drinking.

Police said the teenager could have perished had they not found him when they did in Thurso on Saturday evening.

The new approach involves young people under 18 found with alcohol being taken to the police station and their parents or guardians contacted to take them home.

As part of Operation Safety, launched at the weekend, youngsters were given advice by youth workers about the risks they are taking.

North divisional commander Superintendent Julian Innes reported that a handful of under-age drinkers were picked up on the first weekend the initiative was activated in Thurso and Wick.

Most concern centred on the 14-year-old, who was drunk on whisky.

Said the superintendent: “He was soaking wet and very vulnerable. We are glad we found him because, if he had fallen asleep, he may not be with us now.”

He added: “From our point of view this was a successful weekend and it was pleasing to see our officers out and about and interacting with young people.”

The trial follows growing evidence nationally and in the Highlands about a strong link between early teenage drinking and ill-health and crime.

 Hotels, clubs and bottle shops across Bankstown will use the packing tape.

 Accord members are committed to the responsible sale of alcohol and want to make sure that once alcohol is purchased, it is consumed responsibly and not supplied to anyone under 18 years of age. The packing tape will help spread this important message.

 The Bankstown project follows a successful packing tape initiative by Byron Bay Liquor Accord.

As a result of the success of Best Bar None for pubs, bars and nightclubs it was an obvious choice to extend the scheme into the retail trade. After consultation, the main issues of concern for retailers were the sales to persons under eighteen years of age, proxy purchase by those over eighteen years of age for underagers, and the age challenge policies with some premises choosing “looks less than 18, 21 or 25 years” as their bench mark for sales.

The SBCC have now devised the Safer Retailer Award accreditation scheme which covers the main issues and legislation concerning the sale of the following age restricted items:

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes and Tobacco
• Lighter Refills, Solvents and Spray Paints
• Fireworks
• Knives, Knife Blades, Razor Blades, Firearms and Axes
• DVD, Video / Computer Games and Lottery Sales

The initiative also includes security and noise reduction sections to ensure that retailers are aware of the need to secure their stock, to protect their staff and customers alike, and also to promote sensible delivery times which take into concern neighbouring houses etc. Disability issues and Local Mandatory Conditions imposed by the licensing board are catered for along with promoting the use of the Young Scot card as a means of age identification. 

The aim of the award is to reduce acts of antisocial behaviour and violence by preventing age restricted items being purchased by persons not of the legal age to do so, whilst seeking to attain a higher standard of management of age restricted goods within the retail sector. The initiative also promotes and encourages the sharing of best practice.

The scheme is open to all venues who sell one or more age restricted items. There are two levels:

• Accreditation – awarded where all essential criteria are met
• Accreditation with Merit – awarded where all essential and further desirable criteria are met

Anyone not achieving the “desired” criteria will be given documentation and if necessary training on that subject to enable them to implement the good practice.

It is envisaged that local partnerships formed from trading standards, the police and existing community safety partnerships, will carry out the assessor’s role during their routine checks of retail premises.

Local Authority and BIDS Co-ordinators will oversee the initiative within their own areas with the Scottish Business Crime Centre ensuring consistent standards are maintained throughout Scotland.

All accredited with the award will be presented with a certificate for show on their premises.

The report contains 38 recommendations based around eight key ideas: accessibility and availability, changing culture through leisure and lifestyle choices, education, and emotional support for young people, personal safety, regulating alcohol industry marketing and promotion, social marketing and young people influencing treatment services.

The first of their recommendations, which falls under the accessibility and availability category, is that young people should influence licensing decisions. The report states that 

“Decisions relating to access and availability of alcohol are clearly relevant and important to the health and wellbeing of young people, yet their voices are apparently seldom heard regarding local and national implementation of policy.”

The report acknowledges the role Local Licensing Forums play in representing the views of young people in communities but states that in practice “this youth representation is patchy across the country.” The Youth Commission recommends that the National Licensing Officer undertakes an audit of young peoples’ inclusion in the Forums and the “extent to which young people feel involved in decision-making.”

The Commission concludes their recommendation by suggestion that bodies, such as Local Licensing Forums, Licensing Boards and Alcohol and Drug Partnerships should better engage with the community, including young people.

“Rather than expecting young people to fit in with their (often bureaucratic) structures these bodies should seek out the views of young people in their own environments. This should include reaching out to the most disengaged young people in our society, who are often those most affected by the consequences of alcohol misuse.”

Click here to download the Report of Evidence and the Report of Recommendations.

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