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LIQUOR LICENSING IN SCOTLAND, 1998-2002
7. Liquor licensing law offences (Chart 7 and Table 10)
7.1 In the period since the introduction of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, the number of liquor licensing offences recorded by the police fell overall, though there were periods of increase in the mid 1980's and again in the mid 1990's (Chart 7). The total number of such offences recorded was 905 in 2001 compared with 1,332 in 1980 (Table 10). The number of offences relating to possessing alcohol in sports grounds has increased in recent years, rising from 68 in 1998 to 106 in 2001. The most common type of liquor licensing offence in 1980 (50 per cent), was a person under 18 buying or consuming liquor in a bar. More recently, the most commonly reported offences have been the sale of liquor to a person under 18 and purchasing liquor for the consumption by a person under 18 (32 per cent and 23 per cent respectively in 2001).
7.2 Monetary penalties are the most commonly imposed sentence by Scottish Courts for liquor licensing offences. In 2001, 86 per cent of convictions where a liquor licensing offence was the main offence resulted in a monetary penalty (Table 11). The average fine imposed in such cases was 149.
Liquor licensing offences in Scotland, recorded by the Police, 1977-2001 | Chart 7 |
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