South Ayrshire Council News

Councillor Margaret Toner is pictured with one of the posters being used to target those who supply alcohol to young people

Everyone has a responsibility to make sure that young people in our community are safe, healthy and confident and that includes making sure that underage young people are not supplied with alcohol. .

Members of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership, which includes representatives from South Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Coast Guard, Ambulance Service, Procurator Fiscal and ADAT (Ayrshire Drugs & Alcohol Team) and the local licensed trade have created an initiative to re-enforce this message.

Throughout the next few months, a combination of test purchasing, bottle marking and an awareness campaign will take place, focusing on the Prestwick and Troon area. Over the coming weeks posters will be distributed by the Partnership for display in premises which sell alcohol, public buildings, shops, and many other small businesses.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership said: "Most young people are positive, confident and use their free time constructively. However, the small minority who choose to consume alcohol can, under the influence of alcohol, have a detrimental impact on a local community by putting themselves at risk or causing fear and alarm to others. This then leads to adverse publicity about young people who have consumed alcohol and then get involved in incidents that can have serious consequences, such as an accident, becoming involved in an argument or acting out of character.

"I would ask everyone to support this initiative, as I am positive that by working together we can stop young people being supplied with alcohol. This will benefit the young people and our communities."

A large amount of pro-active work is already taking place both locally and nationally to reduce the access young people have to alcohol and to promote the 'no proof, no sale' mantra. Most licensed premises in South Ayrshire display signage requesting proof of age from anyone who looks under 21 and keep a refusals record to support their action.

The introduction of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which is currently in a transition period, empowers the police to carry out 'test purchases' of alcohol using a young volunteer. This helps to test the policies and procedures of those licensed to sell alcohol and allows the Police and Licensing Board to identify premises who may need further help or training or indeed those who are breaking the law.

The successful bottle marking initiative is also proving a useful tool in the fight to prevent sales to underage youths and has encouraged many premises to improve their practices and increase their staff training.

However it is not just direct alcohol sales to young people that is a problem, the increasing number of adults purchasing alcohol on behalf of underage drinkers is also a concern. Supplying alcohol to young people is a crime and those found guilty of the offence could face a fine of up to £1000 under the current law.

Young people deserve to be safe, healthy and confident and by simply making one FREE telephone call you could stop a young person coming to physical harm or being involved in a life changing incident.

If you know that premises in your area are selling alcohol to young people, or if you know of adults who are buying it on behalf of young people, please take action. Simply make a FREE telephone call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, you do not need to give your name or address and nobody will know where you telephoned from.