ACS Criticises Home Secretary's Comments
28 Aug 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the campaigning voice of over 33,000 local shops, has written to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith expressing concern at her comments blaming “dodgy off-licences” for underage drinking problems.
James Lowman, Chief Executive of ACS said: “The convenience store sector has worked very hard for a number of years to prevent young people buying alcohol illegally. The Home Secretary’s comments will be considered offensive by thousands of responsible retailers that work on the frontline of preventing underage drinking.
“We are not complacent about the ongoing challenge of preventing underage sales. However, the evidence does not show that off licences are more likely to sell alcohol to underage drinkers than any other part of the trade, nor is it true that the problem of underage drinking will be solved by sanctions against retailers alone.
“The Government is far less advanced than it should be in developing measures to deter young people from wanting to obtain alcohol illegally, prosecuting those adults that sanction and supply them, and cracking down on the multi-million pound black market in alcohol that is wholly unregulated. All these elements have to be effectively addressed if we are to make real long term changes to underage drinking behaviour.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
ACS
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
ACS
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. Jacqui Smith made her comments on the BBC Radio 4’s Today program on the 23rd August 2007.
3. AMEC 4 figures for 2006 show off-licences have a test purchase failure rate or 21%, to 29% for pubs and nightclubs.
4. ACS is a leader on responsible retailing issues and fully supports the No ID No Sale and Challenge 21 campaigns. For free point of sale and other materials retailers can contact CitizenCard on 0870 900 9930.
5. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman is on the Board of the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) Board.
6. ACS is a member of the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG).
James Lowman, Chief Executive of ACS said: “The convenience store sector has worked very hard for a number of years to prevent young people buying alcohol illegally. The Home Secretary’s comments will be considered offensive by thousands of responsible retailers that work on the frontline of preventing underage drinking.
“We are not complacent about the ongoing challenge of preventing underage sales. However, the evidence does not show that off licences are more likely to sell alcohol to underage drinkers than any other part of the trade, nor is it true that the problem of underage drinking will be solved by sanctions against retailers alone.
“The Government is far less advanced than it should be in developing measures to deter young people from wanting to obtain alcohol illegally, prosecuting those adults that sanction and supply them, and cracking down on the multi-million pound black market in alcohol that is wholly unregulated. All these elements have to be effectively addressed if we are to make real long term changes to underage drinking behaviour.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
ACS
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
ACS
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. Jacqui Smith made her comments on the BBC Radio 4’s Today program on the 23rd August 2007.
3. AMEC 4 figures for 2006 show off-licences have a test purchase failure rate or 21%, to 29% for pubs and nightclubs.
4. ACS is a leader on responsible retailing issues and fully supports the No ID No Sale and Challenge 21 campaigns. For free point of sale and other materials retailers can contact CitizenCard on 0870 900 9930.
5. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman is on the Board of the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) Board.
6. ACS is a member of the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG).