Local authorities have been given the green light to ban individual outlets from selling alcohol to people aged between 18 and 21 where the stores have previously fallen foul of the law by selling to under 18s, or where there is a problem with teenage drinking.
The move comes as the majority SNP Government signals its intent to tackle Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Power to restrict sales only to those drinkers aged 21 and over would be a powerful tool in the arsenal of the local licensing boards who police the retailers.
Draft guidance on the incoming Alcohol Etc (Scotland) Act 2010 states that while licensing boards cannot impose blanket bans on sales to under 21s, they can do so on a case-by- case basis.
Licensing board officials have told The Herald this provides a platform to increase the age at which young people can buy alcohol from a range of retailers, a power that they do not currently have. > > > > Read More
