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| Drink campaign to target parents | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Parents who allow their children to consume alcohol could be prosecuted under new measures to target underage drinking in England. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Nick Clegg criticises the new measures as government 'spin' | Nick Clegg criticises the new measures as government 'spin' |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| These new measures are designed to set clear boundaries Home Secretary Jacqui Smith | These new measures are designed to set clear boundaries Home Secretary Jacqui Smith |
| 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. | "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. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYUnder-age drinking is not the problem. It's those who get drunk, misbehave and become violent or destructive who are the problem.Oxford Don, Oxford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=4880&start=15&tstart=0&edition=1&ttl=20080601090618#paginator">Send us your comments | |
| 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. | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the government's latest plans were misguided. | 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.'' | 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.'' |