Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) members in Dumfries have refused to take part in a voluntary police initiative to ban the sale of alcohol to under-21s.
The initiative, called 'Operation Hyena', asks retailers to ban the sale of alcohol to under-21s on a Friday and Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm for the next two months.
The move comes just weeks after the Scottish government launched a consultation on measures to deal with alcohol misuse, including a proposal to increase the legal purchasing age for alcohol to 21 in the off trade.
SGF chief executive John Drummond said: "I believe it is quite wrong for any constabulary to introduce the same measure, albeit on a limited basis, while this consultation is in place.
"We take the issue of age-related sales seriously but we feel that operations of the kind suggested only serve to confuse staff and customers while discriminating against the majority of 18- to 21-year-olds who drink responsibly.
"We are happy to co-operate with the police and other authorities within the parameters of the law, and we can share CCTV information and intelligence on suspicions around third-party/proxy purchases.
"However, we are not happy at entering into a scheme which has not been well publicised and has been communicated to the trade at very short notice."
The initiative, called 'Operation Hyena', asks retailers to ban the sale of alcohol to under-21s on a Friday and Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm for the next two months.
The move comes just weeks after the Scottish government launched a consultation on measures to deal with alcohol misuse, including a proposal to increase the legal purchasing age for alcohol to 21 in the off trade.
SGF chief executive John Drummond said: "I believe it is quite wrong for any constabulary to introduce the same measure, albeit on a limited basis, while this consultation is in place.
"We take the issue of age-related sales seriously but we feel that operations of the kind suggested only serve to confuse staff and customers while discriminating against the majority of 18- to 21-year-olds who drink responsibly.
"We are happy to co-operate with the police and other authorities within the parameters of the law, and we can share CCTV information and intelligence on suspicions around third-party/proxy purchases.
"However, we are not happy at entering into a scheme which has not been well publicised and has been communicated to the trade at very short notice."
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