A teenager will be visiting off-sales premises in the Lochaber area as part of a police operation to crack down on underage drinking.
The police are warning license holders that the young person, who will be under 18, will be taking part in a test purchasing operation in the area.
A police spokesman today explained that “a fully briefed teenager” would be entering off-sales premises under controlled conditions and in line with agreed guidelines to purchase alcohol “over the coming weeks”.
He said: “If the proprietor does not ask the person their age and allows them to purchase alcohol, they will be committing an offence, even if their excuse is that they thought they were 18.
“Licence holders will not be duped into committing an offence because if – as they should do – they ask the age of the test purchaser, then the youngsters will answer truthfully.”
And he reminded license holders that they could face losing their license if they were caught selling alcohol to anyone under the age of 18.
Anyone with any information relating to the sale of alcohol to underage customers is asked to report it to police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Police crack down on underage drinking in Lochaber
