§ 45. Sir WILLIAM BARTONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Oldham, Leicester, and other town and city councils regretting the widespread and increasing frequenting of licensed premises by very young people of both sexes, and urging that the age at which such young persons be allowed to purchase intoxicating liquors be raised to at least eighteen years; and whether he can see his way to give effect to such resolution?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I understand that in licensed houses under the management of the Liquor Control Board a Regulation against serving intoxicating liquors to persons under the age of eighteen years is enforced. It is considered doubtful whether the Board have power to extend this Regulation to other houses in the areas under their control, and I do not think it would be possible under present conditions to introduce the legislation which would be necessary to make such a Regulation general.