ACS

New independent consumer research commissioned by ACS has shown that people look to parents and the police to take responsibility for tackling the problem of under age street drinking in communities.

The GfK NOP survey, which will be unveiled at ACS’ Summit08 event in Birmingham on 24 April, indicates that 54% of people believe parents should take the greatest responsibility for this problem. 26% of respondents singled out the police as being most responsible, and only 9% identified shops and supermarkets as being chiefly responsible for the problem.

ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman said: “It is very important to keep a handle on what people think, and not simply on what the national media and politicians portray as the public’s view. The most emphatic finding from this polling exercise is the sense of parental accountability for underage drinking. This is a message that the Government should listen to.

“What our research also shows is that the public aren’t fooled by the Government’s persistent attacks on our sector in the media. Sooner or later the Government is going to have to confront what the public know is the biggest cause of the problem. More needs to be done to educate parents and bring light to the real issue of proxy purchasing, along with ways of dealing with the problem of violence and abusive behaviour towards shop staff.”

Other results of the poll showed that 64% of people believe that their community does not suffer from under age street drinking, but that 54% felt that retailers could do more to tackle this problem.

James Lowman continued: “Retailers must not be complacent. Our focus has to remain on every store implementing a No ID – No Sale policy, asking everyone who looks under 21 for proof of age, and training staff rigorously to eradicate under age purchases.”