A COUNCIL has called on the lord advocate to make it legal for children to buy alcohol during undercover operations targeting shopkeepers allowing under-age sales.

This follows preparations for a "test purchasing" scheme in Glasgow using under-16s to buy tobacco, solvents, fireworks and spray paints.

Colin Boyd, the lord advocate, has agreed local authorities can use children in test purchasing aimed at submitting reports to the procurator-fiscal over illegal sales.

However, he has excluded alcohol from the list of products which young people will be able to buy and stand as prosecution witnesses.

His decision was based on it being illegal for a child to buy alcohol. With tobacco, any offences cover only the seller.

Robert O'Neill, Glasgow City Council's director of environmental protection services, said: "We are all too familiar with the anti-social behaviour and associated health risks that goes along with under-age drinking, as well as growing concerns of too many of our residents. We hope the lord advocate reconsiders his decision and includes alcohol in the test purchasing list."

If the council approves the scheme, it could start in the summer - subject to parental approvals and training on protocols to safeguard children.

Covert filming and taping is understood to be being considered to provide corroboration of illegal sales and it is expected trading standards officers would be in the targeted premises to ensure the children's safety. The children, who will be aged at least 13, would be searched before entering shops and instructed to provide their correct ages if asked.

Mr Boyd's go-ahead for nationwide schemes follows a pilot by the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh, Moray, South Ayrshire and Stirling.

Under earlier Crown Office instructions, children could not be used as witnesses in cases of age-restricted goods which made enforcement of statutes such as the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act difficult.

However, Mr Boyd approved the pilot scheme which led to an Edinburgh trader being fined pounds-300 for cigarette sales, with another case pending.

In next week's report to Glasgow's environmental protection services committee, Mr O'Neill will seek approval for the initiative. The intention is to warn traders, but repeat offences may lead to fines of up to pounds-2500 for tobacco sales and pounds-5000 for fireworks.

The Crown Office and procurator-fiscal service are examining issues around the test purchasing of alcohol.

However, a spokesman said:

"There are also welfare concerns in relation to both the premises that young persons would be expected to visit as part of any test purchase, and the fact that they may be more likely to be called to give evidence if the procurator-fiscal decides to take proceedings."