BARRHEAD teenagers hit out at plans to increase the age limit of buying alcohol from 18 to 21 back in 2008.

A group launched a campaign backed by East Renfrewshire MP Jim Murphy and MSP Ken Macintosh to voice their anger at the plans.

Barrhead teen Claire Howell was appalled to discover that local off-license would be increasing the age limit to 21.

She said: “Young people in Barrhead feel strongly about this and we felt we had to launch this campaign to show how we felt.

“Raising the age limit for buying alcohol sends out a bizarre and contradictory message and would deny young adults the right to make their own decisions.”

Mr Murphy said: “I don’t believe that the age limit for buying alcohol should be raised to 21. Alcohol is of course an enormous cause of violence and must be tackled. But this is the wrong policy aimed at the wrong people.”