Fife Police is clamping down on underage drinkers

The Co-op supermarket in Glenrothes has fallen foul of Fife Constabulary's pioneering test purchasing scheme.

Central Area Licensing Board also suspended the licence of the Collydean grocers in Glenrothes, for four months for the same offence.

It is the fifth licence suspension since the scheme started in June.

This decision sets out the consequences that can be faced when a licensee, large or small, allows alcohol to be sold to someone underage Ch Supt Andrew Laing Fife Constabulary

Under the scheme 16 year olds are sent into both on and off-sales premises attempting to buy alcohol.

Those that sell to them face prosecution or the loss or suspension of their licence.

All premises in Fife are being tested - with about 15% currently falling foul of the scheme

Ch Supt Andrew Laing of Fife Constabulary, said: "This decision sets out the consequences that can be faced when a licensee, large or small, allows alcohol to be sold to someone underage."

'Serious consequences'

Chief Inspector Alex Duncan, of Fife Constabulary, said while the majority of licence holders were refusing to sell to under-18s, there were still too many who were failing to comply with the law.

"We want to warn licensees in both on and off-sales that we will be stepping up our test purchasing visits over the festive period.

"If there's any doubt in your mind about the buyers age ask for identification, otherwise the consequences could be serious."

Councillor Andrew Keddie, who chairs Fife Council's community safety committee, said: "Fife Council wholly supports Fife Constabulary and its determination to stop the selling of alcohol to under-18s.