Three Shetland businesses reported for selling drink to under-18s
Three businesses are being reported to the procurator fiscal after allegedly selling alcohol to children.
One organisation in Scalloway and two in Lerwick failed a recent test purchasing operation staged by police. The businesses in question have not been named.
Test purchasing powers are used by the police to root out any licensed traders who sell alcohol to minors, adding to alcohol related problems such as anti-social behaviour, disorder and vandalism.
The test purchasing scheme consists of a fully briefed teenager (under the age of 18) entering licensed premises under controlled conditions.
If the proprietor does not ask the person their age and allows them to buy drink they will be committing an offence, even if their excuse is that they thought they were 18.
Police insist licence holders will not be duped into committing an offence because if they ask the age of the test purchaser, as they should do, the youngsters will answer truthfully.
Public houses, off-sales and nightclub proprietors are reminded they could face losing their licence if they are found to be selling alcohol to anyone under 18.
The police-led initiative is being supported by Highland Council, Orkney Islands Council, the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, Licenced Trade Association and Crimestoppers.
Joe johnson
Really pleased the police are doing this. Its bad enough underage drinking is a big problem in the UK but even worse when alcohol is being sold to minors.
Johan Adamson
I dont really see the point in this when parents seem to buy it for the underage nowadays so that they do not need to try to. Do parents think it is better to supply it to try to control what they are getting? I want to know before my bairns grow up and I have to face this dilemma.
David Spence
I am intrigued to know, whether under experimental or controlled conditions or not, why the licensed premises have not been named, afterall, they did break the law. We are constantly reminded to be accountable for our actions and behaviour, but when it comes to businesses (the largest example of breaching laws and highlighting the negative aspect of human behaviour eg. Lying, Cheating, Deceiving, Dishonesty, Bribery, Greed, Profiteering, Corruption etc…..the main traits of Capitalism where putting profit and greed ahead of anything else…..) they seem to have laws of their own where they are exempt from acts of law breaking as it will infringe on the scale of profit they make, but who is counting…..ironically. It also doesn’t help, in the long term, when you have a Government who preached constantly that greed, profit and business are they key elements to a society, that such mentality eventually affects the individual, and their attitude towards exploiting people for their own gain. Mind you, Banks have been doing this for decades….if they want to make money, they start a war……the arms trade is such a lucrative, profit making business.
Gordon Harmer
David, What is the difference between Capitalism and Socialism?
Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man
Socialism is the exact opposite.
If you don’t get that, get this, one of the perpetrators was a large supermarket in Lerwick. The person sold the drink was a young 16 year old girl used as bait by the authorities. The till picked on was the one most likely to sell the drink to the girl without asking for identity proof. This girl was used in all three cases as well as in other off sales establishments who did ask for identity, they were not named either.
This whole episode was one of entrapment so hardly warrants your lefty comments as you can hardly call some poor unsuspecting bored out of their skull till operator a capitalist. Who incidentally will probably face a large fine now as well as the supermarket.
Sheila Tulloch
I think it sends out the wrong message to the youngsters. The onus always seems to be on the licensed premises. When was the last time you heard of an under 18 year old being prosecuted for buying/attempting to buy alcohol or tobacco? They know full well its against the law, but they know its not them who will get in to trouble for it.