TRADING STANDARDS officers across Scotland could be given a greater role in the fight against under-age drinking, Public Health Minister Shona Robison has revealed.

The Dundee East MSP said that could include involving the council officials in test purchasing schemes designed to catch traders who allow alcohol to fall into the hands of young people.

Such programmes are conducted by the police. Following a pilot in Fife, Tayside Police began test purchasing—using 16-year-old volunteers—in Dundee late last year.

Ms Robison was asked at Holyrood what measures would be required to transfer responsibility for test purchasing and monitoring under-age alcohol sales to trading standards.

The minister was also quizzed on whether the government will consider introducing such measures in the interest of “more effective and cost-effective” policing of under-age sales.

She replied, “Primary legislation to amend the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 would be required to give trading standards officers such a responsibility.

“As emphasised during the Scottish Parliament debate on alcohol on June 25, the Scottish Government is keen to ensure everything possible is done to ensure the effective enforcement of licensing law.

“We are currently exploring with COSLA and ACPOS therefore, the scope for giving trading standards officers a role, alongside the police, in the enforcement of the law in relation to off-sales and, more specifically, in the organisation and execution of test purchasing programmes.”

Trading standards officers are involved in test purchasing for tobacco.

The minimum age for buying cigarettes was raised to 18 in October and the Scottish Government is now seeking to ban the sale of alcohol to under-21s in off-licences and supermarkets.