'Grenadine' targets teen drinkers

Sales of alcohol to under age drinkers will be targeted

An operation has been extended across the Scottish Borders to tackle the issue of under age drinking.

Operation Grenadine follows up a successful scheme which targeted the problem in Galashiels and Peebles.

A number of agencies have teamed up with police to stop under 16s buying alcohol and also prevent people supplying drink to them.

The operation will run in Kelso, Melrose and Jedburgh as well as smaller surrounding towns and villages.

The initiative is supported by the NHS Drug and Alcohol Team, the Reiver Project, local licensees and community wardens.

Previous success

Sgt Suzanne Scott said it was hoped it could continue the good work of previous operations.

"It has been successfully run in Peebles and Galashiels in the past," she said.

"Now we are going to be rolling it out into Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh and the smaller towns and villages in between."

She added that police would be "working very closely" with local off-sales premises to monitor purchases from their stores.