Scotland – Under-aged test purchasing challenges?

Tim Shield attended the Scottish Licensing Law and Practice (SLLP) conference held in Glasgow last Friday. This is always an informative conference and as usual there was a wide range of speakers from differing backgrounds which included Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, through various licensing lawyers to Mo Razzaq, an independent retailer who also sits on his Licensing Committee. He gave an insight into the operation of a smaller licensed retail operation.

Perhaps most newsworthy was Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams (Police Scotland's new head of licensing) who gave an update on licensing form the police perspective. He indicated that under-aged test purchasing operations were currently in decline over Scotland due to a shortage of teenagers deemed suitable for the role.  He  said there were "huge challenges" in recruiting "approved children" to carry out so-called test purchasing operations and that some area have carried out none for several years as a result.

He also commented that he would make police interactions with the licensed trade "more accurate and honest" and that every inspection of pubs, clubs and off-sales would be recorded onto a national database.

Separately it is being reported that Police Scotland is warning drivers against drinking any alcohol before getting behind the wheel as the force last Friday launched a two-week crackdown on drink and drug drivers.