By Rachelle Money

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill wants to raise the minimum age for buying drink in off-sales and supermarkets from 18 to 21. But teenagers younger than 18 seem to have no difficulty getting hold of alcohol, and, as this case study illustrates, they often put themselves at risk.

Linda McDonald and her daughter Nicola live in Cromarty on the Black Isle. Four years ago Nicola had a terrifying experience caused by drink.

Linda McDonald: "Just because we live in a small village, people don't think we've got the drugs and drink. I didn't think she was doing that at 13. It was during the Easter holidays and she was drinking in a house just down the road. We knew nothing of what was going on until one of her friends, who hadn't been drinking with the group, came to the door telling me Nicola was in the park, face down and paralytic.

"My heart was beating and my partner and I rushed to the park to get her. Her so-called friends had taken her out of the house and dumped her in the park. Nobody had stayed with her. She was being sick and she could have choked to death.

"Nobody forced her to drink, but she was getting fed it and she didn't know her limits. If her friend hadn't found her, I don't know what would have happened to her. When I was her age I didn't experiment with drink. I tried smoking because my friends did, but I never stuck to it. I didn't start drinking until I got married. I have the odd glass of wine, but drink has never really bothered me; it's not something I'm into.

"I think Scotland's drinking culture has got worse through the years. It's so easy for young kids to get drink, much easier than when I was young. All you have to do is find someone who's older to go and buy the drink and that's it.

"She has not stopped drinking but she's never got in that state again. I know she has a drink, but I think she knows her limits. I'm not relaxed about it, I would like her to stop it, but I have to trust her when she goes out the door."

Nicola McDonald, 17: "I had never drunk like that before. I was drinking vodka straight and I hadn't eaten anything that day. We started drinking at 11 in the morning and when I got offered it I just said OK. I thought if I'd said no they would think I couldn't handle it.

"The boy's house we were in his older sister had bought the vodka and we sat in his house and drank it. I didn't know I was that drunk until I stood up and had to be carried to the park. When I realised they'd dumped me I couldn't understand why they'd do that.

"I know when to stop now and I feel like I learned the hard way. When people get really drunk I get scared and I feel really protective of them because I know how vulnerable they are.

I don't think you can say it's a Scottish problem. I had a German exchange student over and she told me they drink at the weekends and get drunk because they can buy beer at 16. I don't think there's anything you can do to stop kids drinking under-age, it's just the done thing these days."