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Drink campaign targeting parents | |
(10 minutes later) | |
Parents who allow their children to consume alcohol could be prosecuted under new measures to target underage drinking in England. | |
The proposals also include handing the police tougher powers to disperse gangs of youngsters congregating in public. | |
Ministers say they are still in favour of previously-announced plans to outlaw drinking in public by the under-18s. | |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said criminalising people was not the best way to crackdown on underage drinking. | |
Parents spotlighted | Parents spotlighted |
As well as urging greater take-up by police of existing powers to confiscate alcohol and disperse youngsters, ministers are spotlighting parents as a means to tackle underage drinking. | As well as urging greater take-up by police of existing powers to confiscate alcohol and disperse youngsters, ministers are spotlighting parents as a means to tackle underage drinking. |
Those who fail to get their children to "change their ways" and stop abusing alcohol could be required to attend parenting courses. | Those who fail to get their children to "change their ways" and stop abusing alcohol could be required to attend parenting courses. |
These new measures are designed to set clear boundaries Home Secretary Jacqui Smith | |
Ultimately, they could be prosecuted. | Ultimately, they could be prosecuted. |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said professionals would be called in where parents were unable to handle their offspring. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said professionals would be called in where parents were unable to handle their offspring. |
She added: "Parents must play their role. I want to see greater use of parenting orders and parenting contracts and anti-social behaviour orders when young people are caught persistently drinking in public. | She added: "Parents must play their role. I want to see greater use of parenting orders and parenting contracts and anti-social behaviour orders when young people are caught persistently drinking in public. |
"If parents and children need to meet a trained worker to get them back on the right track then so be it." | "If parents and children need to meet a trained worker to get them back on the right track then so be it." |
Anti-social behaviour | Anti-social behaviour |
The government is keen to make the link between the abuse of alcohol and anti-social behaviour by young people. | The government is keen to make the link between the abuse of alcohol and anti-social behaviour by young people. |
Ms Smith said: "Groups of under-18s drinking in public is an all-too-familiar sight | Ms Smith said: "Groups of under-18s drinking in public is an all-too-familiar sight |
"The type of drinking increases crime, puts young people in vulnerable situations, and I want to put a stop to it. | |
"These new measures are designed to set clear boundaries." | "These new measures are designed to set clear boundaries." |
Under the plans, teenagers persistently possessing alcohol in public will be subjected to anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) and acceptable behaviour contracts. | Under the plans, teenagers persistently possessing alcohol in public will be subjected to anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) and acceptable behaviour contracts. |
New laws could make drinking in public by children an offence. | New laws could make drinking in public by children an offence. |
Prosecution | Prosecution |
In February Ms Smith said she was in favour of making it easier for the police to prosecute under-18s who drink in public, by removing the necessity to prove "reasonable suspicion" that an offence could be committed. | In February Ms Smith said she was in favour of making it easier for the police to prosecute under-18s who drink in public, by removing the necessity to prove "reasonable suspicion" that an offence could be committed. |
The action plan will be released by Ms Smith together with Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson on Monday. | The action plan will be released by Ms Smith together with Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson on Monday. |
The government said the number of 11 to 15-year-olds drinking regularly had fallen from 28% in 2001 to 21% in 2006. | The government said the number of 11 to 15-year-olds drinking regularly had fallen from 28% in 2001 to 21% in 2006. |
However, average consumption by school pupils who drank had nearly doubled from 5.3 units in 1990 to 11.4 units in 2006. | However, average consumption by school pupils who drank had nearly doubled from 5.3 units in 1990 to 11.4 units in 2006. |
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals that more than 30,000 young people were excluded temporarily from school due to alcohol or drugs. | Analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals that more than 30,000 young people were excluded temporarily from school due to alcohol or drugs. |
They and the Conservatives say the government is failing to deal with binge drinking among under 18s. | They and the Conservatives say the government is failing to deal with binge drinking among under 18s. |
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the government's latest plans were misguided. | |
He told the BBC: "Trying to get parents involved is a good thing but once again the government is trying to create great fanfare for a new offence when criminalising people is not always the best way to deal with it.'' | |
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