Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 6 March 2008.

Alcohol: Young People

Question: My Lords, will the Minister reflect on the comparison that he has just made with American practice? Many of our people start drinking underage at 16 or 17, whereas in America you have to be 21 before you can start purchasing alcohol and there are severe restrictions on where you can take it. I think that we need a fundamental review of just where we are going with our strategy. Age and cost are factors that need to be revisited.

Answer: My Lords, my noble friend may be talking about increasing the age limit as a way of dealing with the problems of underage drinking, but underage drinkers do not go into licensed premises to buy their alcohol. A small number do, but most get it from home or friends or from someone else who purchases it. The idea that sales promotions result in very young people going into our big supermarkets to buy 24 cans of alcohol is a myth. That is not how they access alcohol, which is why a restriction on licensed premises is only a very small part of the answer.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 699 c1203
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Alcoholic drinks Licensed premises Opening hours Licensing laws Young people
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk