Almost every shop selling alcohol in Arbroath has signed up to initiative following a successful trial at West Port Grocers.

Generally each store participating in the scheme has vowed to cut out under-age customers by selling only to buyers identifiable as being aged 21 and over. Shop owners are also in the process of removing cheap cider plus tonic wine from their shelves.

And the two councillors behind the scheme, David Fairweather and Peter Nield, are calling for the Scottish Government to follow Arbroath shopkeepers' example and raise the legal age limit for buying from an off-licence to 21.



Mr Nield explained: "The support from the shop owners has been brilliant and since it appeared in the press under-age drinking problems have been reduced. Indeed some customers in the shops spoke to David and I about how good it was that something was being done and that it was a better shopping experience already.

"We know this is only the start but David and I hope the Scottish Government can see how shop owners are willing to up the age to 21 for off-sales - maybe they will consider legislation for the whole of Scotland. We are not talking pubs etc., just off-sales. Publicans already generally do a good job on keeping an eye on the state of their customers."

Mr Fairweather said: "We are hoping to continue the links made and hope to develop the initiative further. Already the police are seeing the effect."

He concluded: "We are very grateful to Mr Bhattari of Westport Grocers who trialled this initiative for us and he has been very influential in getting other owners to come on board."