By Stewart Ross

FIFE YOUNGSTERS as young as 16 will be working undercover as part of a new war against under-age binge drinkers and their law-breaking suppliers.

Playing the long game, the Scottish Executive is planning to have new procedures and legislation ready by 2009, but this summer will start the ground-work with a year-long pilot project in Fife to fine-tune the campaign.

Deputy health minister Lewis Macdonald was in Burntisland yesterday saying that the overall aim is to make a significant difference in two areas—health and law enforcement.

Fife was chosen as the pilot area due to the Fife Constabulary’s track-record in tackling the issue, whilst the venue launch was at the David Sands store in Burntisland, part of a chain with a strict policy on under-agers.

The 12-month pilot will be run by Fife police and over its course every location in the county where drink can be bought is likely to be visited.

Volunteer schoolchildren aged 16 and 17 will attempt to buy drink in shops, pubs and clubs with the aim that common procedures can be developed for use by other forces by 2009.

Speaking in Burntisland, Mr Macdonald said

“Binge drinking is a problem for all age groups, not just the young. But underage drinking is illegal as well as harmful, and it is often associated with anti-social behaviour in our communities.

“Test purchasing will help the police to tackle these problems head-on.

“Its yardstick for success will not be the number of prosecutions—but how we can reduce under-age sales by making off- licences, shops, supermarkets and pubs more aware of their responsibilities.”

Chief Superintendent Andrew Laing, divisional commander for Central Division of Fife police, said youth disorder and alcohol fuelled antisocial behaviour is “the predominant concern of almost every community in Fife.”

“So we are obviously delighted to have been selected as the pilot site for Scotland,” he said.

David Sands, managing director of David Sands Ltd, who operate a chain of 20 convenience stores, 14 of which are in Fife, said, “I am well aware of the problems associated with under-age drinking.

“There is no doubt that many youngsters are getting alcohol illegally, and I personally welcome the introduction of test purchasing.”