New Figures Reveal Under 18s drink unpunished
New Home Office figures have revealed that under 18s are not being punished for buying alcohol.
Home Office figures found that just six children were found guilty of buying alcohol in a shop or licensed premise in 2006.
The figure represents the lowest number of prosecutions in five years. In 2002, nine under-18s were found guilty, a year later, 10 were.
The figure was released when licensing minister, Tobias Ellwood tabled a Parliamentary question to Home Office minister, Vernon Coaker.
Chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Jeremy Beadles said the figures “undermined” moves to raise the off-trade sales age to 21.
He said: “Enforcement across the board against young people is basically non-existent and until they see consequences for their actions their behaviour will not change.
“It begs the question as to why we should be raising the drinking age to 21 if the authorities won't take action against those breaking the current age limit.”
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