HC Deb 01 February 1989 vol 146 cc308-11W
Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many alcohol-related offences were reported to children's panels in each year since 1979.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The information is available only for 1987 and for three social work authorities. Referrals for drunkenness and liquor licensing offences in that year were:

Number
Central 9
Grampian 6
Strathclyde 145

They accounted for 0.9 per cent. of offence referrals in those areas. No information is available on offences where alcohol was a contributory factor.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet representatives of the Scottish Football Association to discuss the issue of alcohol abuse involving persons under 18 years of age and to seek their assistance in banning all advertising at football grounds throughout Scotland of alcoholic drinks.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

No. The codes of practice relating to the advertising of alcohol generally have recently been strengthened, particularly in their requirements about advertising and young people. The ministerial group on alcohol misuse, which initiated the review of the codes, intends to monitor the effects of the changes.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish councils concerning alcohol abuse and the consumption of alcohol in public places.

Persons under 18 buying exciseable liquor or consuming alcohol in licensed premises
Year Number of persons proceeded against Number of persons with a charge proved Number of persons fined Average amount of fine (£)
1979 602 588 509 13.16
1980 465 450 375 15.50
1981 317 310 256 15.65
1982 173 159 130 15.71
1983 140 136 112 19.87
1984 114 103 82 23.74
1985 83 77 56 26.95
1986 120 116 77 29.31
1987 131 130 92 30.82

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children were taken into care where alcohol abuse was involved in each year since 1979.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The information requested is not available centrally.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to make it an offence for a person under the age of 18 years to consume alcohol in public places.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I have no present plans to do so, but I am consulting the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to seek their views on those problems and on whether changes in legislation might assist in dealing with them and will take their views into account.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will support the request from a number of Scottish councils to impose a bye/law to prohibit the consumption of alcohol in designated public places; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Three district councils have written concerning the possible use of byelaws to prohibit consumption of alcohol in specified public places and one has written to express support for a Bill to control under-age drinking in public.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Police Federation about the problem of alcohol abuse

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

My right hon. and learned Friend has had no recent discussions with representatives of Scottish churches or any request for such a discussion on the problem of alcohol abuse.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many prosecutions there were for the offence of drinking under age in Scotland in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what was the average fine for the offence of drinking under age in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The available information is given in the table. Persons under 18 consuming exciseable liquor in a bar are not separately identifiable from persons under 18 purchasing such liquor.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

To date only one council has requested agreement to the making of a byelaw that would prohibit the consumption of alcohol in designated public places. In that case I have indicated that in its particular circumstances it may be possible to achieve the desired objective by the use of a management rule. As two other councils have also indicated interest in making such a byelaw, I am consulting the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to seek their views on the need for such byelaws and on their likely effectiveness in dealing with the problems commonly associated with drinking in public. Once I have had an opportunity to study their replies I shall decide whether it may be possible to approve such byelaws as part of an experimental scheme of limited duration.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Police Federation about the problem of alcohol abuse by persons under the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

None.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chief constable of Strathclyde; and whether he discussed the problem of alcohol abuse involving persons under the age of 18 years.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

My right hon. and learned Friend last met the chief constable of Strathclyde police at the Lockerbie memorial service on 4 January when this topic was not discussed.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many convictions for the offence of breach of the peace where alcohol was directly or indirectly involved there were in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement; (2) if he will give details of the number of convictions of persons under the age of 18 years, for violent crime where alcohol has been directly or indirectly involved.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The information requested is not available.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of representations made to him on the problem of persons under the age of 18 years consuming alcohol in public; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Only three representations have been received, one from a district council and two from community councils, specifically on the problems associated with persons under 18 years drinking alcohol in public. While the consultation paper we issued on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1986 did not include this particular topic, some 60 respondents expressed concern about underage drinking in general. I am consulting the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to seek their views on these problems and on whether changes in legislation might assist in dealing with them.

Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many retailers were convicted of selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in each year since 1979;

(2) how many people were convicted of being agents in the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 years in each year since 1979.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The available information is given in the table. Retailers are not separately identifiable, but in general, licensees are legally responsible for the actions of their agents in this matter.

Sale of drink to persons under 18
Year Number of persons with a charge proved
1979 69
1980 88
1981 91
1982 65
1983 75
1984 114
1985 90
1986 106
1987 113