Written question asked by John M Taylor (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 December 2000. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 December 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to prevent the sale of illegally imported beer to children.

Answer: Mr. John M. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent the sale of illegally imported beer to children. [142864] Mr. Charles Clarke: Tackling under-age drinking is a priority for this Government. It is one of the key objectives of the Home Department action plan on alcohol-related crime. In taking forward the programme set out in that action plan, we shall, in consultation with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police, look at whether more can be done to address the availability of illegally imported beer and other alcohol, in particular to young people. In addition, to go further in tackling under-age drinking more generally, we shall be asking Parliament to approve measures which will strengthen the requirements on licensees and their staff to satisfy themselves that customers are at least 18 before selling alcohol to them, and to establish clearly the ability of the police and local authorities to arrange for the test purchasing of alcohol by children under this age.

Secondary information