Harry Cohen
Violence Against Shopworkers
As the police and local authority continue to use the additional powers they have to tackle anti-social behaviour I believe more restrictions are required with relation to the underage use of alcohol.
This is, unfortunately, a problem which seems to be on the increase. A recent USDAW survey looking at the reasons for violence against shop workers shows that refusal to serve those under age with drink is one of the main causes of that violence. A lot of anti- social behaviour amongst our young people is exacerbated by the fact that they have consumed alcohol.
The problem is made significantly worse because the drinks involved are often high-alcohol proof – 8, 9, 10 or even high percentage volume in some cases. In effect young people, as young as 12 years of age are drinking the equivalent in each can or bottle of two or three pints of ordinary beer. Some ciders, with twice the strength of most beers, can cost as little as £1 per litre. It is not difficult to imagine the consequences with many youngsters not in control of themselves. Research shows youngsters between 11 and 15 are drinking more than twice as much alcohol as the did 10 years ago. Alcohol Concern believes that as many as two and three quarter million pints of beer are consumed every week by under age drinkers. Each week, four children under 16 are admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with alcohol poisoning.
As parents we should look carefully at what our children are doing. This problem crosses social and economic boundaries and can happen anywhere. Pocket money can be used to buy a great deal of the high proof cheap drinks – a considerable amount of alcohol can be consumed for £2 or £3 and the evidence is building that many youngsters’ first experience of alcohol is with these high-volume products. Any alcoholic drink is strong to people in their early teens, but the high proof drinks multiply that problem considerably. We often forget that alcohol is a drug, and must represent a potential cause of harm when it is taken in such strong doses.
USDAW have proposed a proof of age scheme which would effectively take the decision away from the shop worker and put the onus on the purchaser to prove their age. I am supportive of that idea however I think the brewing and drinks industry needs to play a bigger part than they do now.
Many of the high proof drinks are clearly packaged and advertised in a way to be attractive to young people. Why does the industry produce such products and sell them in such a high profile way? Cynics might suggest that they are targeted at our youngster as most social drinkers do not like or drink such high volume alcohol drinks. It is argued that these drinks provide a good profit margin but surely the damage to our young people should outweigh that commercial consideration? I believe consideration needs to be given to a punitive tax on high percentage alcohol beers and ciders putting them out of the price range of pocket money drinkers.
One final part of the problem is, I believe, those adults who buy alcohol for under age drinkers. Most licensed premises do not sell alcohol to young people but this does not mean that even more supervision of off licences and alcohol outlets is not needed to tackle these irresponsible people. Some adults buy drinks for underage youths because they are harangued or even bribed into doing so. They should think about their actions. More disturbingly police have found groups of teenagers, mainly girls, in the presence of males over 18 who buy them drinks. Assault and sexual assault on youngsters too drunk to know what is happening cannot be ruled out as a motive for such actions.
This problem needs addressing further.
You can contact Helen Jones MP:
- by letter to Gilbert Wakefield House, 67 Bewsey Street, Warrington, WA2 7JQ or the House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA;
- by phone on 01925 232 480;
- by fax on 01925 232 239;
- by e-mail – jonesh@parliament.uk
