ONE in seven off-licences has been caught fuelling Scotland's "booze" culture by selling drink to under-age buyers.

Some 644 visits to off-licences have been carried out by teenage "spies" since a test purchasing scheme went national in December – and 87 resulted in the youngster being sold alcohol.

The worst offenders have been in Lothian and Borders, where a third of tested premises were caught breaking the law.

Scotland's police forces were given the power to carry out sting operations among the country's 6,000 off-sales premises using under-age volunteers following a pilot scheme in Fife.

The first set of national figures since then was released yesterday following a parliamentary question by Bill Aitken MSP, the Conservative justice spokesman, who described the number of premises caught breaking the law as "unacceptable".

Mr Aitken said: "Much of the trouble in Scottish communities is caused by under-age drinking and the vast majority of this drink is obtained from off-sales rather than public houses. Licensed grocers have a particular responsibility to be vigilant and some of them are clearly being negligent."

Last night, Mr Aitken was joined by alcohol campaigners in calling for persistent offenders to be banned from holding a liquor licence.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "Holding a licence brings with it the responsibility to uphold the law. Clearly, some licensees are still not aware of this.

"There must be meaningful penalties, including loss of licence for persistent offenders."

In the Lothian and Borders police area, 17 of 51 tests resulted in the volunteer being sold alcohol. In further tests on 17 offending shops, three of them were again found to be flouting the law.

Strathclyde has seen the biggest number of tests – 356 – with 43 "fails", a rate of 12 per cent. Only one force, Northern, has done no tests.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are determined to crack down on irresponsible licence-holders."

SHOPKEEPER FINED £400 IN FIRST TRIAL SINCE CLAMPDOWN

A SHOPKEEPER has become the first person in Glasgow to face the courts for selling alcohol to a police "spy kid".

Safdar Ali, 53, was fined £400 for handing over a Bacardi Breezer to a 16-year-old girl under the national test purchasing scheme, which began last December, at his Premier Newsflash store on Maryhill Road.

Like all test buyers used by officers, she was said to have looked "obviously" underage.

But the girl was not questioned by licensee Mr Ali when he sold her the drink.

When asked about the incident he was defiant – despite pleading guilty. He said: "She looked older. It was a mistake, that's all. Mistakes happen."

Mr Ali initially denied the accusation but changed his plea to guilty when he appeared for trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 31st March.

Licensing chiefs could still suspend his licence when it comes up for renewal, although police are not expected to make a formal objection.

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