§ 5. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult with chief constables with a view to legislation to provide against the growing practice of under-age drinking, by devising ways and means whereby licencees can vet those ineligible; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Norman Buchan)If my hon. Friend can suggest a practicable and enforceable system of vetting, I am certainly prepared to discuss it with chief constables and others concerned.
§ Mr. DempseyWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that many licensees are unable to distinguish between those just under 18 and those just over 18, because the hair style of boys and the use of cosmetics by teenage girls makes them look much older? Will he consider having on an experimental basis an identity card system, under which the photograph of the person and date of birth could be obtained by the doubtfuls and supplied on demand to licensees, thus preventing licensees from supplying them with alcohol, on the one hand, and deterring under-age drinking, on the other?
§ Mr. BuchanI am aware of the difficulties of fashion as described by my hon. Friend. I am not sure that the system he advocates would be effective. In some ways it might be a positive inducement to evasion. If he is asking whether we are seriously concerned about the problem, I can assure him that we are.