Police forces targeted gangs of youths outside shops

The alcohol was taken in a four-week blitz which also targeted adults buying drink on behalf of under 18s.

Some forces focused on gangs of youths hanging outside off-sales premises and causing "disorder".

Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald welcomed the action which formed part of the Safer Scotland campaign.

Police said that in one incident in Maryhill, Glasgow, a 72-year-old woman was caught allegedly trying to buy alcohol for a group of youths gathered outside an off-licence.

She has been charged with "agent purchase" under the Licensing (Scotland) Act.

Underage drinkers

A total of 5,225 litres of alcohol was taken off the streets during September with officers using local byelaws to make the seizures.

The campaign has also involved educating licensees and shop staff on their responsibilities when selling alcohol.

Police made more than 4,200 visits to shops to gain support for the crackdown.

A total of 44 adults were detected in relation to knowingly buying alcohol for underage drinkers.

Officers also targeted people drinking in the street with 2,159 public offences detected during the four weeks.

Excessive alcohol consumption is taking a heavy toll on public health and community safety in Scotland Lewis Macdonald Deputy Health Minister

Assistant Chief Constable Neil Richardson, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland's lead officer for liquor licensing, said: "Throughout Scotland, communities report that youths under the influence of alcohol are blighting their communities through violence, vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

"By making it harder for them to acquire alcohol in the early evenings we are changing their behaviour later on and reducing the negative impact these groups have on their communities."

Mr Macdonald said the campaign complemented other Scottish Executive initiatives including a test purchasing pilot scheme in Fife using underage buyers.

He said: "Excessive alcohol consumption is taking a heavy toll on public health and community safety in Scotland.

"We need to turn around attitudes to alcohol and change our behaviour."

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said: "It is very concerning that there are so many people willing to break the law by supplying alcohol to under-18s or by street drinking."