Police will carry out sting operations to check if alcohol is being sold to people aged under 18 in Inverness during the coming weeks.
The scheme involves a fully briefed teenager, who is under 18, entering off-sales premises under controlled conditions and in line with agreed guidelines to purchase alcohol.
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 they ask the age of the test purchaser then the “undercover” young person will answer truthfully.
All those who hold licenses to sell alcohol in these areas should be reminded that they could face losing their license if they are caught selling alcohol to a minor.
The sting operations come as new figures emerged yesterday showing that hundreds of youngsters were admitted to hospitals across the Highlands for alcohol abuse in the past three years.
A total of 233 children aged 10 to 18 in the region were treated for drink-related illnesses or incidents between 2011-13.
Another 165 young people were treated in the Western Isles, along with 30 in Shetland and 103 in NHS Grampian hospitals.
Anyone with information relating to alcohol sale to minors within the community should report it to police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.