Youngsters will be attempting to buy alcohol in pubs and off-licences

Colin Boyd QC has agreed to allow under 18s to make test purchases of alcohol in pubs and off-licences.

Earlier this year he agreed to let children buy tobacco and fireworks as a way of catching shopkeepers who flout the law on age-restricted products.

The Scottish Executive said it would amend the Licensing (Scotland) Bill to make the new plans possible.

The safety of young people involved in test purchasing is to be taken into consideration.

Test purchasing of alcohol has additional welfare concerns due to the type of premises which would be visited Colin Boyd Lord Advocate

Mr Boyd said that after consulting police chiefs and the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People, he was satisfied that test purchasing of alcohol by children and young people would help enforce the law.

"It is vital that young people are protected from those who are willing to break the law for profit, by selling alcohol to people under the age of 18," he said.

"The welfare of children and young people used in any test purchasing of alcohol remains of prime concern.

"Test purchasing of alcohol has additional welfare concerns, which are not factors in the test purchasing of other age restricted goods, due to the type of premises which would be visited.

"I have asked my officials to carefully consider the most effective means by which the safety of those involved in test purchasing of alcohol can be ensured."

The move was welcomed by ministers.

Licensing laws

In February, rules were amended allowing children to "test purchase" tobacco and fireworks as part of planned "sting" operations to catch rogue shopkeepers.

In a separate move, a bid to stop supermarkets and off-licences from selling alcohol round the clock was narrowly passed by MSPs on Tuesday.

Nationalist MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Bruce Crawford, successfully amended the executive's new licensing laws, which are currently going through the Scottish Parliament.

Off-licences and other retailers will now be prevented from selling alcohol between 2300 BST to 0800 BST.