AN INITIATIVE aimed at combating underage drinking and anti-social behaviour is being piloted in Kirkcaldy North.
A partnership group has been set up featuring local businesses and voluntary organisations to seek support for action to tackle the under age drinking culture – and adults buying alcohol for young people.
The work has involved:
promoting weekend a
ctivities,
attempting to reduce the availability of alcohol to under age drinkers through the Test Purchasing Scheme
targeting adults who buy drink for underage youngsters.
A total of 11 local off sales traders have signed up to a new code of conduct which includes implementing a 'Challenge 25' policy, standardising the forms of ID accepted in shops as well as agreeing to work together to stop anti-social behaviour in the area.
The stores are: AA Brothers, Co-op, David Sands, Fair Deal Food Store, Forres Store, HMR Premier, Malkha's, Shop & Save, Spar, St Kilda's licensed grocers and Valley Grocers.
Councillor Alice Soper, chairman of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, praised the scheme: "This is an excellent example of working together that has developed an innovative and pro-active approach to reduce alcohol-related problems," she said.
Local trader Waseem Akhtar of Fair Deal Food Store said: "'It's good to see that local traders are being involved as part of the solution rather than being seen as part of the problem."
The 'Clued Up' project in Kirkcaldy – a specialist young person's service – is one of the youth work organisations which have been supporting the initiative.
Laura Crombie, project manager, said: "Our service provides support, advice and information to young people on a range of drug and alcohol issues.
"A lot of the young people, who we work with, drink alcohol on a Friday night and can be putting themselves at risk.
''By backing the code of conduct we hope to see a reduction in the number of young people drinking alcohol, an increase in their knowledge of the dangers and keeping safe and an increased number of young people taking part in the positive activities on offer to them."
Steven Hamilton, Inspector from Kirkcaldy Police, said: "Changing the alcohol culture is a long term challenge but we're confident that we can start to have an impact in the area with the on-going support of the local traders, agencies and communities."
