§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for selling(a) alcohol and (b) alcopops to under-age children have taken place in England and Wales in each of the last five years; what proportion of prosecutions have involved sales from (i) public houses, (ii) off licences, (iii) supermarkets and (iv) other outlets; and if he will make a statement. [4404]
617W
§ Mr. MacleanThe information held centrally does not distinguish between the forms in which alcohol is sold or the types of retail outlet proceeded against.
The table shows the number of prosecutions for offences of selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18.
Number of defendants prosecuted for the offence of selling intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 1 1991 to 1995 England and Wales Prosecutions 1991 309 1992 195 1993 156 1994 137 1995 198 1 Section 169(1) Licensing Act 1994.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his policy on people purchasing alcohol on behalf of minors. [4414]
§ Mr. MacleanI fully support the proposals of my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink) to enable the police to confiscate alcohol from people under 18 drinking alcohol in a public place, and to seize alcohol from people who are 18 if it is intended for consumption by under-age drinkers in public.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) people and (b) children under the age of 18 have been prosecuted for alcohol-related crime in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [4406]
§ Mr. MacleanIt is possible to distinguish centrally only defendants prosecuted for offences under the intoxicating liquor laws as opposed to alcohol-related crimes.
Information is given in the table:
Number of defendants prosecuted for offences under the intoxicating liquor laws by age 1991 to 1995 England and Wales Offence description/age 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Drunkenness, simple Under 18 69 37 19 35 39 All ages 4,503 3,663 2,795 3,349 3,061 Drunkenness, with aggravation Under 18 969 798 626 819 1,034 All ages 30,580 25,893 21,003 22,247 22,153 Offences by licensed persons etc. Under 18 4 2 2 1 — All ages 1,008 863 686 516 629 Other offences against intoxicating liquor laws Under 18 103 30 14 24 17 All ages 1,106 843 558 446 383