UBS pushed into the red

Mr MacAskill revealed the new plan during a meeting with alcohol workers in Livingston, which like most towns in Scotland is blighted with the problem of under-age drinkers. During one Friday last month, 15 teenagers aged between 13 and 15 were picked up by undercover police for under-age drinking.Mr MacAskill said the levy would help communities to fund measures to tackle local alcohol-related problems."We need the resources to pay for the consequences of Scotland's drinking culture, whether it's doing something about people clogging up casualty units or educating young people about the dangers," he said. "Somebody has to meet the medical and social consequences. Those who are making profits from alcohol are those who have to pay for it."Retailers already face a crackdown on drinks promotions, while police recently began using teenage volunteers to trap shops willing to sell alcohol to children.Retail organisations voiced opposition to the new proposals, which follow complaints from publicans that they were being unfairly singled out.John Drummond, the chief executive of the Scottish Grocers Federation, said the plans were "fundamentally flawed"."This should only be applied if it can be specifically proven that any individual shopkeeper or publican is seen to be responsible for causing anti-social behaviour or the like," he said. read more