An epidemic of youth drinking and alcohol-related deaths has the Scottish legislature mulling a plan to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, AFP reported Sept. 3.

First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of the ruling Scottish National Party, said that raising the drinking age would make Scotland's "streets safer and communities better." Salmond said the country has a serious problem with alcohol abuse; alcohol-related deaths have doubled in Scotland in the last 15 years, and 40 percent of 15-year-old Scots report alcohol use within the past week.

Salmond said trial runs with a higher drinking age led to reduced calls to police on weekends. The Scottish government also is considering setting minimum prices on alcoholic drinks and regulating tobacco displays in shops.