Alcohol Concern welcomes the Home Office Christmas blitz on binge drinking

17th December 2004

Richard Phillips, Director of Policy and Services for Alcohol Concern, said;

?This second phase in the Government?s clampdown on binge drinking and the sale of alcohol to under-18?s comes as very welcome news in a week when a major research study (ESPAD) showed just how serious teenage drinking is in this country. The success of the summer campaign underlined the importance of tackling the issues of under-age sales and the anti-social behaviour associated with binge drinking.

?The high number of pubs and off licenses willing to sell alcohol to children paints a stark picture of an industry putting profits above the wellbeing of children.

?Enforcement is the only deterrent for irresponsible traders. We look forward to seeing how many of the sting operations result in prosecutions or venues being temporarily closed down after being caught. There needs to be a culture change in the alcohol industry so that selling alcohol to a 15 year old is as inconceivable as selling alcohol to a five year old.

?Time and again industry lobbyists argue that it is hard to tell the age of teenagers, they carry false proof of age cards and only a small number of rogue operators sell to children. The summer campaign showed this to be a bogus defence, half of pubs tested and one third of off licenses were willing to sell alcohol to teenagers, and they did not even ask for ID.

?We hope that these actions are sustained in order to gain maximum impact, otherwise the problem will continue and the Christmas clamp down will have been of limited benefit.?

ENDS

For more information, please contact Sophie Davison, Alcohol Concern press office on 020 7922 8669.

Notes to Editors

Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse. We work to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems and their families.

Date: 17 December 2004