Published: Wednesday, 14th May, 2008 09:00
'There has been a sharp increase in anti-social behaviour - drink has a lot to do with that'
By Ally McGilvray
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CHILDREN as young as 15-years-old are being sold alcohol in local nightclubs.
The worrying claim was made by a parent at a meeting of the Scottish Borders Licensing Forum last week.
It comes at a time when a top cop has called for a review of the opening hours of pubs, clubs, hotels and off-licences across the region in a bid to stamp down on underage drinking and nuisance behaviour.
The Forum, which heard youths drank in local nightspots because they found them easier to get into compared to the city, is due to raise its concerns with members of the Scottish Borders Licensing Board later this year.
Speaking to the Border Telegraph, Licensing Board (East) chairman, Councillor David Paterson said: “It is a worry. I saw one youngster drinking super strength lager that was even too strong for me.
“A lot of the problems in the Borders are alcohol-related. There has been a sharp increase in anti-social behaviour and I think drink has a lot to do with that.
“I have seen children as young as 14 and 15 years-old drinking alcohol on many occasions but I think it is a problem all over Scotland.”
The Hawick councillor blamed cut-price drinks promotions for fuelling the problem and argued for an American-style limit on sales of alcohol in supermarkets.
He added: “We have to encourage people to drink more sensibly and not to excess.”
It was announced this month that a test purchasing operation started in the Borders to target licensed premises selling alcohol to under-18s.
Test purchasing involves trained young people attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of the police to identify where under-18s can purchase drink illegally.
However, concerns have been raised that few licensees in the Borders, if any, have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to children.
With some nightclubs in the Borders staying open until 3am at the weekends, Lothian and Borders Police Chief Superintendent Charlie Common, who asked for a rethink on nightclub opening hours to debate whether they should be cut or extended, said: “I think there is a perception that underage drinking is a problem here.”
But Forum chairman Andrew Vickery said: “If people think no-one is ever prosecuted for selling to children then it’s sending out the wrong message.”
Concerns were also raised about the lack of disabled access to some drinking establishments in the Borders.
The Forum is seeking a reassurance that all new licensees are made aware of disability discrimination laws when they take over a licensed premises.
But one former pub owner revealed he was told he never needed to provide a disabled toilet in his bar.
Councillor Paterson said: “If we are providing a service to the public we have to be disabled-friendly. We have to enforce that.”
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