ACS

ACS has hit back at the Prime Minister’s latest efforts to shift the blame for underage drinking onto off licences. In advance of a new report examining the performance of the Licensing Act, the Prime Minister has announced closure orders for those that sell alcohol to under age people on two occasions. It is not clear whether the Government is proposing any new legislation in this area, and ACS Chief Executive James Lowman has challenged the Prime Minister to do more than rely on short-term, headline-grabbing rhetoric.

Mr Lowman said: “There are myriad complex and difficult issues surrounding alcohol misuse, but instead of taking real steps to tackle them, the Government resorts to mud-slinging at hard-working people at the front line of preventing under age alcohol purchases. It is frustrating that the government chooses to ignore its own figures that show that off licences are among the most responsible premises in refusing under age purchases.

“The Government’s introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, which allowed for sales of alcohol throughout the day and night, has been the subject of considerable criticism and debate. This latest announcement is a painfully obvious smokescreen to distract critics of the Government’s alcohol policy; disguising an inability to really tackle problems related to alcohol.

“Making the mistake of selling alcohol to someone underage already comes with the threat of losing your business or your job, as well as fines and prison sentences. Right now retailers work in a climate of fear where they know that they could lose their livelihoods, and this rhetoric does nothing but de-motivate legitimate responsible businesses who are doing so much to tackle this problem.

“At the same time we know that over half of alcohol consumed by those underage is obtained by proxy purchasing, sanctioned by adults and often parents. There are also millions of attempts to buy alcohol every month, and yet we see enforcement taken against attempted purchasers less than twice a month. We also know that adults that encourage and facilitate underage drinking face no sanction.”

Mr Lowman was also critical of the Government approach to working on this issue: “What is most disappointing is that we have met with the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, and only last week we discussed alcohol issues with the Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker. At none of these meetings have Ministers signalled their intentions in this area, preferring to conduct discussions through media headlines.

“Either retailers are a partner in tackling the problems we face or we are not. Gordon Brown needs to make up his mind.”