THERE were calls this week for a clampdown on irresponsible adults who supply children with booze.
Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP David Whitton hit out after Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill revealed that just 83 adults had been prosecuted in the last year for the offence, with only two charges brought in East Dunbartonshire.
The recent Scottish
Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey(SALSUS) showed that 22 per cent of 13-years-olds and 29 per cent of 15-year-olds obtain alcohol from friends or relatives.
This is the most common source of alcohol for children and Mr Whitton believes more needs to be done to catch the culprits.
The Labour MSP said: "These figures show that more must be done to crack down on adults buying alcohol for children.
"We know that the biggest single source of alcohol is from adult friends and relatives and so the SNP Government must do more to address this issue.
"Much of our focus in Government was on tackling rogue retailers through test purchasing and the Licensing (Scotland) Act, but there is now a clear need for the Scottish Government to build on our achievements and focus on proxy purchasing.
"The fact that in East Dunbartonshire only two people in each of the last three years have been prosecuted for buying alcohol for youngsters means that a lot more needs to done to deter adults from buying alcohol for under-age drinkers."
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