Proposals to tackle under-age and binge drinking revealed

Plans to tackle the culture of binge and under-age drinking have
been announced by culture secretary Tessa Jowell and Home Office
minister Hazel Blears, writes Clare
Jerrom.

Local authorities and police will be given greater powers to
change the culture of binge drinking and combat the problem of
sales of alcohol to under-18s.

Measures in the consultation document include:-

• A drinking banning order for anyone who has been issued
with three fixed penalty notices or has three alcohol and disorder
related criminal convictions. This civil order would exclude the
individual from pubs and bars for a fixed period of time

• An extension of fixed penalty notices to cover under-18s
attempting to buy alcohol and staff in premises who serve people
who are drunk

• A review of penalties associated with alcohol related
offending to ensure the right penalties exist.

Blears said: “The proposals outlined today go hand in hand
with our drive against antisocial behaviour and disorder on our
streets, making our communities safer places to live and
work.”

‘Drinking Responsibly: The government’s
proposals’ from
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/current/index.html