Street drinking and antisocial behaviour are being tackled in a blitz on two city hotspots.
Extra patrols by police and Community Enforcement Officers are being drafted into Wyndford and Dumbarton Road/ Earl Street to tackle underage drinking and agent purchasing (when adults buy alcohol for under 18s).
Retailers are also being urged to join an Off -Sales Watch scheme in which shops create a phone network and share descriptions of people they’ve refused to serve. Shopkeepers will also receive support and advice on training at monthly meetings as well as assistance from officers in the area if a disgruntled customer causes trouble after being turned down.
Police Scotland and Glasgow Community & Safety Services (GCSS) have identified Wyndford and Dumbarton Road/ Earl Street as having problems with underage drinking and youth disorder.
Over the next six months (from May 31st) extra resources will be ploughed into the area to tackle the issues. Community Payback teams will help clear up bottles and other debris left by drinkers and diversionary activities for young people will take place on Friday evenings. Mobile CCTV vans will also monitor the areas and dedicated Community Enforcement Officers will work with the police to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Councillor Malcolm Cunning, Chair of Glasgow’s Licensing Board, said: “Residents in these areas have complained of problems with underage drinking and rowdy behaviour. The Licensing Board is very supportive of the practical steps being taken to tackle this by making it harder for under 18s to get access to alcohol and to offer them positive alternatives to drinking.
“This campaign will also give retailers extra support and the confidence to refuse sales while reminding them of their legal obligations. But it is also important to remind adults that it’s illegal to buy alcohol for young people. It can have wide repercussions not only in terms of antisocial behaviour committed by drunken youths but also in terms of their health and future relationships with alcohol.”
The campaign is a partnership between Glasgow Community & Safety Services (GCSS), Glasgow City Council’s Licensing Standards Officers, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Police Scotland, Glasgow Council on Alcohol and Glasgow Alcohol and Drugs Partnership.
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde provides advice for young people and parents concerned about alcohol misuse.
Sarah Brady of the North West Health Improvement team said: “There are no safe limits for alcohol use for under 18s. Their bodies are not equipped to deal with alcohol and it can have a detrimental effect on their physical health.”
Inspector Duncan Evans of Police Scotland said: “This campaign is one of a number of ways in which the partners are working to tackle issues of concern to the public.
“One of the biggest issues Police Scotland will be examining is agent purchasing where adults buy alcohol for under 18s. This is an offence and will be robustly tackled by our officers.”