New law to stop teenage drinkers

Monklands police are warning local residents about the consequences of helping under- age drinkers get their hands on alcohol.

The Air Weapons and Licensing ( Scotland) Act targets a new offence of “giving alcohol or making it available to a child or young person for consumption in a public place”.

The new law came into effect last week and Inspector Louise Brownlie stressed the importance of obeying it.

Inspector Brownlie told the Advertiser: “The new offence now covers legislation against those who buy or attempt to buy alcohol for youngsters.

“Simply giving alcohol or making it available to children or young people for consumption in a public place is unlawful.

“Adults who believe that assisting youths to get a hold of small amounts of alcohol is harmless and ‘something that we all did when we were that age’ are misguided.

“Mixing youths and alcohol leads to antisocial behaviour and puts the young people at increased vulnerability due to their diminished levels of awareness through intoxication.

“It can also lead to them taking further substances and developing an unwelcome and unwanted record of offending.

“I hope people adhere to the new legislation and avoid putting alcohol into the hands of our youngsters.”