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Buckfast monks reject blame for 'tonic wine crime' | Buckfast monks reject blame for 'tonic wine crime' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Monks in Devon say it is "not fair" to blame their Buckfast Tonic Wine for crime in Scotland. | |
The former Strathclyde Police in Scotland linked it to nearly 6,500 crime reports in the last three years. | The former Strathclyde Police in Scotland linked it to nearly 6,500 crime reports in the last three years. |
But in his first interview on the subject, Abbot David Charlesworth of Buckfast Abbey says the monastery's tonic wine "is not made to be abused". | But in his first interview on the subject, Abbot David Charlesworth of Buckfast Abbey says the monastery's tonic wine "is not made to be abused". |
The monastery, which has been brewing Buckfast for nearly 100 years, opened a new production plant two years ago. | The monastery, which has been brewing Buckfast for nearly 100 years, opened a new production plant two years ago. |
The abbey first started producing Buckfast Tonic Wine in the 1920s, selling it direct to the public with the message: "Three small glasses a day for good health and lively blood." | The abbey first started producing Buckfast Tonic Wine in the 1920s, selling it direct to the public with the message: "Three small glasses a day for good health and lively blood." |
Legal action | Legal action |
But in a Freedom of Information answer from Strathclyde Police - which became Police Scotland in April - Buckfast, also known as Buckie, was mentioned in 6,496 crime reports from 2010 to 2012. | But in a Freedom of Information answer from Strathclyde Police - which became Police Scotland in April - Buckfast, also known as Buckie, was mentioned in 6,496 crime reports from 2010 to 2012. |
Hampshire-based J Chandler and Co, which bottles and sells Buckfast, is taking legal action to stop the force adding its own anti-crime labels to bottles of the tonic wine. | Hampshire-based J Chandler and Co, which bottles and sells Buckfast, is taking legal action to stop the force adding its own anti-crime labels to bottles of the tonic wine. |
Police Scotland declined to comment on the social impact of the drink because of the ongoing legal action. | Police Scotland declined to comment on the social impact of the drink because of the ongoing legal action. |
Abbot David Charlesworth told BBC News: "We don't make a product for it to be abused. That's not the idea. | Abbot David Charlesworth told BBC News: "We don't make a product for it to be abused. That's not the idea. |
"We make a product which is a tonic wine. | "We make a product which is a tonic wine. |
"It annoys me to think that these problems, all the social deprivation of an area of Scotland, is being put on our doorstep. | "It annoys me to think that these problems, all the social deprivation of an area of Scotland, is being put on our doorstep. |
"That's not fair. I'm not producing drugs, which I know are going to be used abusively." | "That's not fair. I'm not producing drugs, which I know are going to be used abusively." |
He said the abbey had attempted to address problems, for example employing a youth worker in an area where the problems with the tonic wine were occurring. | He said the abbey had attempted to address problems, for example employing a youth worker in an area where the problems with the tonic wine were occurring. |
Abbot Charlesworth said: "If I say I don't feel any responsibility that makes me sound like a heartless so and so. That's not the case. | Abbot Charlesworth said: "If I say I don't feel any responsibility that makes me sound like a heartless so and so. That's not the case. |
"Am I upset about how tonic wine is used? Of course I am. It would be ridiculous to say otherwise." | "Am I upset about how tonic wine is used? Of course I am. It would be ridiculous to say otherwise." |
"I don't want Buckfast Abbey to be associated with broken bottles and drunks. | "I don't want Buckfast Abbey to be associated with broken bottles and drunks. |
"But is the product bad? No." | "But is the product bad? No." |
He added: "I've heard people say we should ban Buckfast. | He added: "I've heard people say we should ban Buckfast. |
"If you ban Buckfast, ban Scottish whisky. It's alcohol, much stronger. But oh no they wouldn't do that. | "If you ban Buckfast, ban Scottish whisky. It's alcohol, much stronger. But oh no they wouldn't do that. |
"So they are picking on a particular thing as a sort of conscience salver." | "So they are picking on a particular thing as a sort of conscience salver." |
Buckfast represents 0.5% of Scottish alcohol sales, according to the Scottish government. | Buckfast represents 0.5% of Scottish alcohol sales, according to the Scottish government. |
The monastery and J Chandler declined to say how much is produced saying it was "commercially sensitive information". | The monastery and J Chandler declined to say how much is produced saying it was "commercially sensitive information". |
Last year J Chandler's turnover was nearly £40m and the abbey received £6.6m from its business interests, the biggest of which is the tonic wine. | Last year J Chandler's turnover was nearly £40m and the abbey received £6.6m from its business interests, the biggest of which is the tonic wine. |
Inside the abbey's winery, opened in 2011, gleaming metal tanks about 100ft (30m) high, each able to hold 125,000 litre, stand like missile silos. | Inside the abbey's winery, opened in 2011, gleaming metal tanks about 100ft (30m) high, each able to hold 125,000 litre, stand like missile silos. |
There are also six horizontal metal tanks, each holding 25,000 litres of Buckfast. | There are also six horizontal metal tanks, each holding 25,000 litres of Buckfast. |
Wine imported from France is shipped to the Buckfast plant, where it is fortified and blended by a team of three lay workers. | Wine imported from France is shipped to the Buckfast plant, where it is fortified and blended by a team of three lay workers. |
Vats of ingredients wait to be added to the base wine in a process far removed from when the monks first started making the tonic wine in wooden casks. | Vats of ingredients wait to be added to the base wine in a process far removed from when the monks first started making the tonic wine in wooden casks. |
From Buckfast Abbey, the finished wine goes in tankers to J Chandler's plant in Andover, Hampshire for bottling and distribution. | From Buckfast Abbey, the finished wine goes in tankers to J Chandler's plant in Andover, Hampshire for bottling and distribution. |
Meanwhile, the argument over the social impact of "Buckie" rumbles on. | Meanwhile, the argument over the social impact of "Buckie" rumbles on. |
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