§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to deal with under-age drinking in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 5 February 1993]: The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Scotland Act 1990 prohibited the unsupervised sale of alcoholic liquor by under-age persons; required the sale of alcoholic liquor in wholesale quantities by under-age persons to be specifically authorised by responsible adults; and made it an offence to sell alcohol by wholesale to an under-age person. These provisions complemented existing legislation under which it is an offence for a licensee to allow a person under 18 to consume liquor in a bar and for alcoholic liquor to be sold to people under 18 or to be purchased on their behalf. The impact of experimental byelaws prohibiting drinking in public places in parts of Motherwell, Dundee and Galashiels is currently being assessed. If found to be effective my right hon. Friend will consider applications for the introduction of similar byelaws elsewhere.
The Government encourage schools to tackle alcohol education. Two conferences for student teachers were held in Scotland last year to increase teachers' awareness of the levels of alcohol misuse among young people and the ways in which alcohol education can be integrated into the school curriculum.
Much of the work of the Health Education Board for Scotland focuses on the young drinker. Further initiatives, bearing particularly on young people, are envisaged for 1993–94.