ACS

A small West Lothian town will today become the first in Scotland to ban the selling of alcohol to under-21s in off-sales.

The six-week pilot project in Armadale, West Lothian, begins tonight and is aimed at cutting anti-social behaviour.

All 11 off-sales shops in the town have agreed to withdraw the sale of alcohol to those under 21 between 5pm and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

It is a joint initiative between Lothian and Borders Police and West Lothian Council and is modelled on a similar initiative by Cleveland police in the north-east of England which proved a success and became a permanent feature across several towns and villages.

Councillor Isabel Hutton backed the project, saying: "This initiative will not prevent all youths from getting hold of alcohol, but I am sure it will help in reducing alcohol-related, anti-social behaviour, and that will be beneficial to the Armadale community."

She added: "It's too early to say if this project will be rolled out across other areas in West Lothian but we will record and assess the results of this pilot project and consider the options."

PC Phillip McIntosh said: "Youth disorder is often linked to alcohol, and Armadale is no different to any other town in West Lothian, or indeed Scotland, where a minority of young people can get their hands on alcohol and often leads to anti-social behaviour.

"Our intention is not only to limit under-age access to alcohol but to educate those who may have been involved in supplying alcohol to children that they are committing an offence."