THE Scottish government is to press ahead with plans to reform the licensing system despite last week’s defeat in Holyrood, by giving local authorities the power to ban under-21s buying alcohol in shops.

Despite MSPs voting down a proposal to raise the minimum age for buying off-sales from 18, ministers believe there is strong public support for the measure.

In a change of emphasis, they will now argue that local licensing boards should be given the power to decide whether bans are appropriate in their areas.

The expectation is that nationalist-controlled councils will adopt the policy as well as those whose communities are blighted by drink-fuelled violence and antisocial behaviour.

While ministers would prefer to legislate on the matter, with the support of opposition MPS, it may be possible for the scheme to be introduced in the form of guidance to local authorities.

However they believe it will be difficult for opposition MSPs to vote against the move, which they claim is an example of greater local democracy.

“Ministers are looking at how they can give these powers to local licensing boards,” said a government source.

Ministers remain convinced of the need to tighten age restrictions, following the success of pilot projects in towns in central Scotland that led to a 40% drop in drink-related offences, vandalism and breaches of the peace.

Under those schemes, which had the support of the police, the minimum age for buying alcohol rose from 18 to 21 on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Ministers believe that would have helped tackle Scotland’s appalling record of drink problems. Some 40,000 people a year have to be treated in hospital for alcohol-related illness, and Scotland had one of the highest rates of drink-related liver disease and cirrhosis in the world.

Nearly 650 Scottish teenagers were treated for the effects of drink between April and June last year. On average, they had consumed 13 units of alcohol, equivalent to about six pints of lager, in the 24 hours before they were taken to hospital.

Ministers believe the new proposal would have strong public support. However, critics have argued that it would be bizarre to deny teenagers old enough to vote, marry or serve in the armed forces the right to buy alcohol in a shop.

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