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| Buckfast 'in 5,000 crime reports' | Buckfast 'in 5,000 crime reports' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New evidence linking Buckfast Tonic Wine to crime has been uncovered by a BBC Scotland investigation. | New evidence linking Buckfast Tonic Wine to crime has been uncovered by a BBC Scotland investigation. |
| A Freedom of Information request showed the drink was mentioned in 5,638 crime reports in Strathclyde from 2006-2009, equating to three a day on average. | A Freedom of Information request showed the drink was mentioned in 5,638 crime reports in Strathclyde from 2006-2009, equating to three a day on average. |
| One in 10 of those offences were violent and the bottle was used as a weapon 114 times in that period. | One in 10 of those offences were violent and the bottle was used as a weapon 114 times in that period. |
| Buckfast's distributors denied that it caused crime and said the drink made up just 0.5% of Scotland's alcohol market. | Buckfast's distributors denied that it caused crime and said the drink made up just 0.5% of Scotland's alcohol market. |
| However, Strathclyde Police said the figures suggested there was an association between the tonic wine and violence. | However, Strathclyde Police said the figures suggested there was an association between the tonic wine and violence. |
| Supt Bob Hamilton said: "I think it's clear from the figures that there is an association there." | Supt Bob Hamilton said: "I think it's clear from the figures that there is an association there." |
| "The figures are fairly clear that Buckfast is mentioned in a number of crime reports and over the period requested, the Buckfast bottle was used 114 times as a weapon." | "The figures are fairly clear that Buckfast is mentioned in a number of crime reports and over the period requested, the Buckfast bottle was used 114 times as a weapon." |
| Buckfast tasting at Harvey Nichols | Buckfast tasting at Harvey Nichols |
| The evidence from Strathclyde Police appears to back up concerns raised by research conducted in Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2007. | The evidence from Strathclyde Police appears to back up concerns raised by research conducted in Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2007. |
| It found that - of those offenders who had been drinking immediately before their offence - more than 40% had been drinking Buckfast. | It found that - of those offenders who had been drinking immediately before their offence - more than 40% had been drinking Buckfast. |
| The drink is produced by Benedictine monks in a Devon monastery. | The drink is produced by Benedictine monks in a Devon monastery. |
| The BBC investigation looked at its ingredients and how it may affect the behaviour of consumers. | The BBC investigation looked at its ingredients and how it may affect the behaviour of consumers. |
| Neuroscientist Dr Steven Alexander from Nottingham University said each bottle contained 281mg of caffeine - the same amount as eight cans of coke. | Neuroscientist Dr Steven Alexander from Nottingham University said each bottle contained 281mg of caffeine - the same amount as eight cans of coke. |
| Brian TaylorPolitical editor The SNP knows Buckfast is a weak point in its minimum pricing initiative. | |
| Buckie, as its west of Scotland fans call it, is "relatively expensive" already, as Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill concedes. | |
| It wouldn't be hit by the new policy. But, say ministers, many other problem drinks would be so affected. | |
| Read Brian Taylor's blog | |
| He said consuming large amounts of caffeine would make people feel "very anxious and aggressive". | He said consuming large amounts of caffeine would make people feel "very anxious and aggressive". |
| Concerns have been raised about the effect of the stimulant when mixed with alcohol, with the US Food and Drug Administration is considering banning pre-mixed caffeinated alcohol drinks. | Concerns have been raised about the effect of the stimulant when mixed with alcohol, with the US Food and Drug Administration is considering banning pre-mixed caffeinated alcohol drinks. |
| Health warnings about mixing the two are also starting to appear in countries like Canada, France, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Australia. | Health warnings about mixing the two are also starting to appear in countries like Canada, France, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Australia. |
| The monks of Buckfast Abbey turned down a request to respond to the issues. | The monks of Buckfast Abbey turned down a request to respond to the issues. |
| However Jim Wilson, from J Chandler & Co, the distributors of the tonic wine in Scotland, was asked about the possibility of reducing the caffeine levels. | However Jim Wilson, from J Chandler & Co, the distributors of the tonic wine in Scotland, was asked about the possibility of reducing the caffeine levels. |
| He said: "Why should we? It's been there for over 80 years. | He said: "Why should we? It's been there for over 80 years. |
| "Why should we go about changing the recipe of something just to satisfy somebody's whim?" | "Why should we go about changing the recipe of something just to satisfy somebody's whim?" |
| Mr Wilson said the Benedictine monks were not to blame for the effects of Buckfast in the outside world. | Mr Wilson said the Benedictine monks were not to blame for the effects of Buckfast in the outside world. |
| Buckfast contains the same amount of caffeine as eight cans of Coke | Buckfast contains the same amount of caffeine as eight cans of Coke |
| He said: "Why should they accept responsibility? They're not up here pouring any of their Buckfast down somebody's throat. People take it by choice because they like it, because it's a good product." | He said: "Why should they accept responsibility? They're not up here pouring any of their Buckfast down somebody's throat. People take it by choice because they like it, because it's a good product." |
| Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said that what he called Scotland's "vat of shame" was a wider question than one particular drink. | Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said that what he called Scotland's "vat of shame" was a wider question than one particular drink. |
| He said: "There isn't any scientific evidence at the moment that says caffeine has a correlation with violence and crime - really Buckfast, drunk usually in the west of Scotland, is part of a cocktail. | He said: "There isn't any scientific evidence at the moment that says caffeine has a correlation with violence and crime - really Buckfast, drunk usually in the west of Scotland, is part of a cocktail. |
| "But people frequently have an espresso after a good night out, a meal with a lot of wine, and they don't suddenly go berserk. | "But people frequently have an espresso after a good night out, a meal with a lot of wine, and they don't suddenly go berserk. |
| "So Buckfast is a problem, but it's not the only drink and if we ban Buckfast we'd still have a drink problem in Scotland." | "So Buckfast is a problem, but it's not the only drink and if we ban Buckfast we'd still have a drink problem in Scotland." |
| Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker stressed tackling Scotland's booze culture was not as simple as the SNP's proposals for minimum alcohol pricing. | Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker stressed tackling Scotland's booze culture was not as simple as the SNP's proposals for minimum alcohol pricing. |
| The Buckfast Code is on BBC One Scotland at 1930 GMT on Monday 18 January | The Buckfast Code is on BBC One Scotland at 1930 GMT on Monday 18 January |