Under-age drinking is fuelling a wave of vandalism, violence and disorder across the country, a senior policeman says.
Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy thinks alcohol is too cheap, too strong and too easily available.
“A hardcore of parents turn a blind eye to the fact that their youngsters are out there, drinking under age and congregating in places where they cause nuisance,” he says.
He wants parents to get tough on their unruly children. The drinks industry and shops should look at the price of alcohol and the government should consider raising the minimum drinking age to 21.
Do you agree with him? Send us your comments.
Trackback
13 comments so far
A solution based on tax won’t work with youths who can simply turn to their parents for money. Neither will raising the age limit make any difference to those who are already drinking underage. What is needed is a measure that forces parents to take more responsibility for their children, since the root cause of any anti-social behaviour is often bad or neglectful parenting.
- Posted by Andrew FishOf course parents should take greater responsibility for their children. If you have children then there is a legal responsilibity to care for them and there should also be a repsonsibility to the rest of the community that you do not allow them to behave in an antisocial manner. Punish the parents as well.
- Posted by David ReidI couldn’t agree more with Andrew Fish’s statement. Why do Politicians think raising the age limit would prevent the under age drinkers who just get older people to get their drink, or putting a couple of pence on drink; that will just hammer the older drinkers? This drink problem is endemic here in the West of Scotland and the first port of call should be to ban, yes ban, the buckfast/mad-dog and other potent soups, people say they will just turn to vodka but I have tried these drinks and know the difference; buckfast and maddog are absolutely lethal.
Come on politicians show you have claws.
- Posted by AndrewWith the drinking limit at 18 and largely un-enforced, it’s fair to assume 15 year olds can easily access alcohol. If at 15 you think you know everything (and don’t), you have peer pressure plus your inhebitions are lowered are you more likely to have unsafe sex, commit crime/anti-social behaviour or take drugs? In many cases yes.
If the limit was increased to 21 and enforced as it is in the US where passports are required as proof of age, then the likelyhood of 15,16,17 year olds accessing alcohol is diminished greatly. By the time 18 comes around there will have been less chances to run off the rails and if alcohol is taken, you would hope that there’s a better chance of handling it responsibly.
With the correct enforcement laws and penalties for shops and pubs in place then the only way under 21’s could access alcohol would be through someone else buying it for them or theft. Both should be severly punished again to prevent it happening again and to change the culture.
- Posted by Neil GreigThe only solution is effective policing.
- Posted by Haydn EvansForget about being tough on the causes of crime.
This just lets people use excuses to excuse their behaviour.
Just be tough on crime.
Taxing the industry rather than consumers would perhaps encourage more responsible attitudes, which would be enforced more easily. Although society need to crack down on the simply inadequate parenting that now seems to be accepted today.
- Posted by Mr CartwrightHow about considering a stance whereby the age limit to buy alcohol from an off-license or supermarket would be raised to 21 and greater penalties introduced for those selling to underage drinkers.
To drink in a pub, bar or club the age limit would remain at 18 years. This may help to encourage more social drinking and possibly reduce instances of people drinking in the street. It allows some supervision to be exerted by landlords/club owners who already have a responsibility to stop serving when someone is intoxicated.
- Posted by Huw BevanIf a law is passed to raise the minimum drinking age to 21 where will the boys in the military stand? Old enough to die for their country but too young to drink in it. I don’t think so. Why do they not single out the regular offenders? Punish them don’t punish everyone - that is exactly what the Nazis did and look where it got them.
- Posted by Terry HarrisI don’t think that parents can take more responsibility for their childrens actions. Discipline was kept my a sudden shock, and you knew not to do it again. (or not to get caught!) Those days are gone and you can’t even raise your voice without commiting an offence!
- Posted by Black CobWhy not think much deeper into this matter than to say underage drinking is the problem. The actual problem is the people in this country have been brought up to be violent and get away with it, both by their parents and the (utterly useless) education system in this country.
Nearly every 15-17 year old drinks regularly in this country, and in my opinion (despite that being bad for their health) it is not unorthodox or bad, especially since most drunk people are just very hyper and happy.
I believe rasing the drinking age to 21 is ridiculous and would not work, i instead believe the drinking age for beer and wine should be lowered to 16, with spirits at 18, inline with germany, france, austria, etc. Over time this would encourage more sensible drinking!
Also i dont know how many people are aware that places selling alcohol in this country must have proof of identity for anyone who they believe to be under 21, so rasing the ag will make little difference!
When extra tax is put on drinks, it is very little, (1p a year, who does that deter!, it instead raises money for the government)
I think more of an issue is the number of young people in this country smoking weed, which the government is only now starting to admit is schisophrenia inducing. I would believe this to be more the cause of violent crime than alcohol!!, yet the government gives the message that that is ok!!
- Posted by JackAre we not over-reacting? Children and teenagers have always done things that irritate adults.
It’s part of growing up.
Look at the Mods and Rockers of the 1950s and 60s.
Of course it is unacceptable for people to be attacked in the street.
But that is rarity.
Most of what we’re talking about used to be dismissed as “high-jinks”.
- Posted by Paul AnsteyTougher laws, policing and and punishments are an essential part of dealing with the issie of teanage idiots! Also, parenting issues need to be adressed due to the fact that most parents that I come into contact with are not fit to have children! Come on, wake up people!
- Posted by Andrew L WarburtonSo the Nanny state kicks in because of kids who have parents who are not fit to inhabitat this earth let alone be responsible for their kids. Hit them where it hurts - cut their benefits - make them work for a living like the rest of us - they will soon learn to have more respect for the rest of society. Society does not owe them a living. Don’t nanny the rest of us for the loutish few.
- Posted by Paul Greenfield