PRESS RELEASE
October 5th, 2009

Alcohol awareness week

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil is calling for tough new laws to be introduced which crack down on irresponsible retailers who sell alcohol to children.

The MSP met with local retailer Billy Kay, who runs the Spar store in South Street, to mark Alcohol Awareness Week.

They discussed the steps taken at the shop to combat alcohol abuse in the community, such as a ‘challenge 25’ scheme and displaying messages that promote responsible consumption.

Mr McNeil praised Billy for leading the way in promoting responsible alcohol consumption and called for retailers who do flout the law by selling to under-agers to be hit with tougher sanctions.

He said: “It is good to know that we have retailers locally who are doing their bit to promote alcohol awareness and staff at Spar are certainly ahead of the game here.

“But it is clear that alcohol is still getting into the hands of youngsters and I would throw the book at any irresponsible retailers who knowingly sell alcohol to children.

“We need tough sanctions to allow police to enforce the Licensing Act and anyone who looks under the age of at least 21 should be asked to present proof of age before buying alcohol.

“I am sure people would be happy to comply with these rules if they knew it was stopping booze getting into the hands of children.

Billy Kay, local Spar proprietor, said: “It is very rare now that we get under-age teenagers trying to buy alcohol here because it is well-known that we won’t sell to them.

“And we have plenty of messages displayed in the shop so people are clear about the responsible way to consume alcohol.”

ENDS