Commenting on figures released today showing a dramatic reduction in the number of anti-social crimes recorded in Cupar and Springfield, Fife, after a pilot scheme was introduced to ban under-21s from purchasing alcohol at off-sales on Friday and Saturday evenings, SNP Glasgow East candidate Cllr John Mason said: "The results of the pilot scheme in Cupar and Springfield,  Fife, are extremely encouraging and lend support to the SNP Government's proposals to increase the legal age for buying alcohol from off-sales to 21. They show that voting SNP works.

"There has been a 44% drop in the number of anti-social crimes since the scheme began at the end of June, and a fall of 58% in the number of calls to police regarding anti-social behaviour. Those are huge reductions.
 

"Alcohol misuse is a huge problem in Scotland, costing £2.25 billion a year, but the Scottish Government is committed to tackling the source of the problem.

"The results of this scheme show what can be achieved when the police, retailers and residents all work together. I'm certain that when this initiative is introduced in the East End of Glasgow it will be just as successful."