§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in light of the findings of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs on the increased consumption of alcohol by teenage girls, any additional measures will be taken to reverse this trend; and whether they will now reconsider their decision not to use price as a lever to reduce overall consumption of alcohol. [HL502]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalTheAlcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England (published on 15 March 2004) contains several recommendations to tackle underage drinking, through education and communication, and greater and more effective use of existing powers. The Home Office and the Department of Health are working closely in partnership with the police and the alcohol industry to take this work forward. The Government currently have no plans to use price as a lever to reduce overall consumption of alcohol. The strategy sets out how we aim to tackle the problem of alcohol misuse.
During the summer, the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign focused attention on tackling sales to under 18 year-olds and underage drinkers. The campaign has continued during the Christmas season (17 December to 3 January). On 1 November new fixed penalty notices were introduced for the selling, delivery, and purchase of alcohol for children and individuals under 18. The penalty notices also make it illegal for persons under 18 to drink alcohol in a bar. Under the Licensing Act 2003 penalties for selling alcohol to children are also being increased from a maximum of £1,000 to £5,000. These increases are expected to come into effect in November 2005 at the end of the Act's transitional period.