HC Deb 31 January 1977 vol 925 cc3-5W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the growing incidence of underage drinking, and the difficulty experienced by licensees in determining the ages of young people, he will take steps to amend the law to allow for the onus for

custody. He served his sentence in the following prisons:

under-age drinking to be placed on the person purchasing or the person consuming.

Dr. Summerskill

It is already an offence under Section 169 of the Licensing Act 1964 for a person under the age of 18 to buy or attempt to buy intoxicating liquor in licensed premises, or consume it in a bar. The Criminal Law Bill now before Parliament provides for the maximum penalty for this offence to be increased from £20 to £200.