The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rennie slams Amazon plans to sell alcohol from Fife warehouse
Concerns: MSP worried children may use service to get booze
The prospect of online sales of alcohol from a Fife warehouse has been slammed by a leading politician.
Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and MSP for North East Fife, has criticised proposals by retail giant Amazon to start selling alcohol from its warehouse in the region.
The firm has applied for licences to distribute booze from its bases at Dunfermline and Gourock, raising fears that rules on under-18s purchasing drink could be circumvented.
Mr Rennie said: “The proposal poses some serious questions about whether the company will be able to adequately police sales, especially to children and to people who are already intoxicated.
“I think the Inverclyde and Fife licensing boards should reject these applications.
“Before we proceed with this new model of alcohol sales we need an investigation into the proposal and an examination of the evidence from other countries where this has already been introduced.”
It is the first time that the online retailer has attempted to sell alcohol from its Scottish bases, having previously done so from premises in England.
However, the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland has warned that permitting Seattle-based Amazon to start doing so could lead to a surge in hazardous drinking and increase the risks of children purchasing drink illegally.
Jeff Ellis, owner of the Bear Tavern in Newburgh, said that the proposals alarmed him, stating: “What is significant about these applications is that they represent a potential and fundamental game changer in licensing regulation terms.
“The potential impact is not just on Inverclyde and Fife licensing board areas but also on every other licensing board area in Scotland.”
A spokesperson for Amazon said that the company sold alcohol only under strict conditions.
“Amazon follows all regulations in relation to the sale of alcohol.
“We operate a Challenge 25 policy for all alcohol deliveries and, if a customer appears to be under 25, they must provide proof of age, and all alcohol deliveries require a signature upon delivery.”
“The proposal poses some serious questions about whether the company will be able to adequately police sales