Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

News Release - Tackling teen drinking

6 February 2008

The Home Secretary has announced tough police powers to prevent underage drinking, and called for more involvement by parents and the alcohol industry to deal with the problem of teenage alcohol abuse.

Speaking to an audience of police, local authority licencing officers and representatives from the alcohol and retail industries, she described a package of new measures designed to address alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour among young people.

Key actions

Among the actions to be taken are:

  • a crackdown by police on underage drinkers consuming alcohol in public places
  • extra powers for police to confiscate alcohol
  • wider use of parenting contracts to get parents involved in helping their children deal with drinking addictions
  • a new public information campaign directed at binge drinkers
  • an independent review of how well industry standards are being met when it comes to responsible sales of alcohol

Good work already underway

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith emphasised that a lot of good work is already being done to address the problem of binge drinking, but there's more still to do.

'Police must have all the powers they need to make groups of young people drinking in public a thing of the past,' she said. 'A new campaign to confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers begins this month, and lessons will be learned from it.

'At the same time, we will continue to punish those few irresponsible retailers who flout the law by persistently selling to children.'

Parents will also play their part, and those whose children are consistently found drinking illegally will be given support to help their children stop drinking.

Read Full Speech (PDF)

__________________________________________________________________

at