Scots trade against early start to alcohol stings

Trade groups in Scotland have called for the Scottish Executive to scrap plans for an early introduction of test purchasing north of the

border.

Test-purchase operations will be made legal in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which goes live in 2009. But legislators have proposed bringing test purchasing in earlier.

A letter from Scottish Beer & Pub Association chief executive Patrick Browne to deputy minister for health and community care Lewis Macdonald outlines a number of concerns about introducing it early.

"Primarily, the fact that many of the new requirements of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 on issues such as, for example, mandatory training of staff and a mandatory condition of "no proof, no sale" will simply not be in place," Browne says in his letter.

"Similarly, as you may be aware, it is currently lawful under the terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 to sell alcohol to 16 to 18 year-olds in licensed premises in certain specific circumstances, namely with the consumption of a meal.

"This will remain the case until introduction of the new licensing regime amends the law to make it unlawful to sell alcohol to under 18 year-olds, although again it will still be lawful for them to consume it in on-licensed premises under certain limited circumstances where the alcohol is ancillary to a meal."

Browne told the MA: "Scottish Parliament elections are in May and the expectation is that they might think about announcing it before then."

The letter was counter-signed by representatives of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association Scotland, BII Scotland and the British Hospitality Association in Scotland.