HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1456-7W
Mark Tami

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK; [70406]

(2) how many prosecutions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK. [70403]

Mr. John Denham

The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.

Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.

the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK. [70402]

(2) how many convictions relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK. [70405]

Mr. John Denham

The available information, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.

Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.

Defendants proceeded against and those found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons England and Wales 1996 to 20001,2
Offence description Statute Year Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty
Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Persons under 18 for consumption on the premises Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1). 1996 251 119
1997 214 125
1998 310 157
1999 204 115
2000 130 56
Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in licensed premises Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(2), Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(2). 1996 33 19
1997 31 24
1998 39 24
1999 38 21
2000 24 22
Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec17. 1996
1997 1 1
1998 1 1
1999 1
2000 2 1
Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy intoxicating liquor from wholesale premises Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(3) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec. 17. 1996 1 1
1997 1
1998 2 1
1999
2000
1These data are on the principal offence basis.
2Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000.
Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.