§ 40. Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he intends to take to help to prevent alcohol abuse.
§ 49. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he is taking to curb alcohol abuse.
§ Mr. SumbergTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he intends to give to help tackle at local level the problem of alcohol abuse as a means towards reducing the level of violent crime among young people.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are encouraging more rigorous enforcement of the licensing laws, including new provisions to help prevent under-age drinking. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is meeting representatives of the magistrates (with the Lord Chancellor) and of brewers, licensees, the retail trade and the entertainments industry (with the Lord President) to discuss the measures they can take. Discussions are also taking place with chief officers of police. Guidance will be issued to the police and courts on the powers available to deal with and prevent breaches of the licensing laws and with disorder as a result of heavy drinking. The ministerial group on alcohol misuse is co-ordinating further preventive and educational measures, including guidance on good practice in tackling local problems.