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Young People: Alcoholic Drinks

Answer

[holding answer 26 March 2012]: Although most school-age children have never had an alcoholic drink, and the numbers who have done so are declining, the levels of binge drinking among 15 to 16-year-olds in the UK still compare poorly with other European countries.The Government's Alcohol Strategy was published on 23 March 2011. It announced a number of further measures to tackle the issue of excessive alcohol consumption which will encourage children to delay the age at which they have their first alcoholic drink and minimise the amount of alcohol they consume if they do start drinking.The strategy outlines the action to be taken to improve alcohol education for children and young people, raise their awareness of the harms, and ensure that parents are aware of their own responsibilities and the chief medical officer for England's guidance on alcohol consumption and young people. We will also work with regulators and industry to ensure the controls on alcohol advertising, marketing and retail continue to provide appropriate levels of protection for children and young people. As increases in the price of alcohol are linked to decreases in alcohol consumption, particularly among those who regularly drink heavily and young drinkers under 18, we will consult on the level to be set for a minimum unit price for alcohol and a proposed ban on multi-buy discounts in supermarkets and off-licences. We are also doubling the maximum fine for persistently selling alcohol to a person under 18 to £20,000 and making it easier to close down premises found to be persistently selling alcohol to young people.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

101931; 542 c1039-40W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Alcoholic drinks Misuse Young people

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk