Strathclyde Police and SBPA praise licensees after under-age sting
Strathclyde Police has praised licensees in the region (which incorporates Glasgow) after just 9% of sales made during a December test purchasing scheme were recorded as failures.
Of the 235 test purchases carried out by the Strathclyde force between 5 and 31 December just 21 were failures.
The results of the crackdown, which used 16-year-olds to buy alcohol on licensed premises, were also praised by the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA).
Patrick Browne, chief executive of the SBPA, said: "When the Test Purchasing Pilot Scheme in Fife took place last year almost 17% of premises tested failed, so the fact that the failure rate in Strathclyde has halved to under 9% is a positive development."
Superintendent Stephen McGrath of Strathclyde Police said the failure rate was "a clear indication that licensees are adhering to the law and taking the responsibility of refusing to sell to those who are underage very seriously".
Licensees caught selling to those underage face prosecution and having their licences revoked.
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By Christopher Walton
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