- The Scottish Parliament is considering targeting cheap supermarket alcohol promotions in a bid to beat binge-drinking. Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie has tabled a motion in the parliament condemning supermarkets for selling beer, wine and spirits at rock-bottom prices. Shops in Scotland were criticised during the World Cup for selling beer cheaper than bottled water. Mr Gorrie's motion calls on the Scotish Executive to "encourage supermarkets to end their sales promotions of alcohol and agree with them arrangements to remove the incentive for customers to buy larger quantities of alcohol than their normal consumption because of very low prices". Morning Advertiser
- Scotland: Police are using invisible ink pens to nail shopkeepers who sell alcohol to kids. The police mark bottles and cans with invisible ink to identify which shops they came from. And if the alcohol ends up in the hands of underage drinkers, the marks can be used to identify where it was bought. The ink scheme is being tried out in Armadale, West Lothian. And police say shopkeepers are keen to volunteer to take part, even though they risk losing their alcohol licences if caught serving youngsters alcohol. If successful, the ink project could be extended to other parts of the Lothian and Borders police force area. Daily Record
- Summer drinking leading to anti-social behaviour is being targeted by police in Caerphilly in a six-week operation. Operation Impact will see extra police officers and community support officers being drafted in on weekend nights. BBC News
- Young people in the north east of Scotland are being asked to submit story ideas for a film competition that aims to raise awareness about alcohol. Aberdeen Joint Alcohol and Drug Action Team said the best 15 entries would be made into a film by 16 to 24-year-olds. The winning films will be entered into international festivals. BBC News
- Northern Ireland: Police will be able to close rowdy pubs for serious disorder under government plans to reform NI's licensing laws. Persistent offenders could get penalty points and publicans could eventually get their licence revoked. The plans, to be in place by Christmas 2007, also mean pubs would be able to open an extra hour later. Bars would have to apply for an extension to open until 0200. There are no plans for 24-hour opening, as is allowed in England, Wales and Scotland. BBC News
- Mansfield's pub and club owners have set up a new fund as part of the latest drive to stamp out boozed-fuelled crime in the town centre. The Heart of Mansfield fund was launched in a blaze of publicity and will be used to provide enforcement and education schemes as well as promote the town as a safe place to visit and enjoy a night out. Mansfield Association of Late Night Venues (MALV) has set up the crime-cracking scheme and each week 20 licensed venues and four takeaways will all voluntarily pay into the fund.
Police, bus operator Stagecoach, Mansfield District Council and Level One Security –– which provides doorstaff in the town –– are also paying into the fund and a special MALV committee will decide how cash is spent. Up to £1,000 each week will be initially ploughed into the coffers and MALV bosses say the money could be used to provide extra police officers, pay for a street cleansing team or roaming door supervisors. Mansfield Today
- Portable loos could be brought to Spalding town centre to tackle the problem of people urinating in the streets after leaving pubs clubs. A council spokesman said that temporary toilets are one of the possibilities being considered, although no firm recommendations have yet been made. Spalding Today
- Buying alcohol on behalf of underage drinkers could land you with an £80 on-the-spot penalty, say Hitchin police. The warning comes as police in the town concentrate their efforts on stopping the supply of alcohol to underage drinkers who congregate on Windmill Hill at night. Hertfordshire on Sunday has reported how hundreds of under-18s gather on the hill every Friday night. Herts & Essex News Online
- A campaign has been launched to stop Welsh teenagers abandoning their drunk friends on the street. The Don't Walk Away drive encourages teenagers to seek help for pals who have collapsed as a result of drug or alcohol use and to stay with them until the emergency services arrive. It also gives simple life-saving advice. The project aims to increase the chances of a person being found and receiving medical treatment following a night on the tiles. icWales
- Plans for alcohol-free club nights for under-18s in Witney have been welcomed by police and youth workers. Heventeen, a group which organises dance and live music events for teenagers, is holding the first in what organisers hope will be a series of 'dry' club nights at The Palace nightclub, in Market Square, on 24th July. Only 13- to 17-year-olds will be allowed in and there will be strict no-alcohol and no-smoking rules in place as an Ibiza-style foam party gets under way to celebrate the start of the school summer holidays. Oxford Mail
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