• It is estimated that alcohol causes 28,000 excess deaths per year in England and Wales. The medical effects of long term use of alcohol has been shown to cause liver damage, stomach cancer and heart disease but additional deaths involving alcohol take the form of drowning and fire. 7% of accidental drowning are as a result of alcohol and 40% of household fires are due to alcohol.
• Home Office figures that 36% of all crimes committed by people under the age of eighteen are done so while the perpetrator is under the influence of alcohol.
• According to Department of Health Statistics 26% of all 11 - 15 year olds drink each week. That is 28% of the boys and 25% of the girls within this age range, the numbers vary with 6% of 11 year olds drinking increasing to 52% of 15 year olds.
• At a stage in their lives when the bodies of young people are developing, heavy drinking causes problems with the red muscle fibres causing endurance problems, whereas regular drinking affects white muscle fibres affecting explosive activity such as sprinting.
• Alcoholism is a physical dependency much the same as heroin addiction.

Legislation

• Licensing Act 1964 (as amended)
• Licensing Act 2003 (with effect from 2005)

Age Restriction

A person must be 18 years or older to buy alcohol. (Except to buy beer, cider, or port with a meal in the restaurant part of licensed premises. This only applies to a person over the age of 16, accompanied by a person over the age of 18.)
A person under the age of 18 may only sell alcohol if supervised by a person over the age of 18.

Offences

The Licensing Act 1964 (Licensing Act 2003 - with effect 2005) makes it illegal:

• To sell alcohol to any person under the age of 18
• To knowingly allow the sale of alcohol to a person under the age of 18
• To sell liquer confectionery to an individual under the age of 16
• For a person over 18 to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under the age of 18
• For a person under 18 to buy or attempt to buy alcohol unless at the request of a Weights & Measures Inspector or Police Officer (acting in the course of his/her duty)
• To allow a person aged under 18 to sell alcohol unsupervised
• To knowingly send an individual aged under 18 to obtain alocohl for consumption off the premises
• To sell alcohol to any person who is intoxicated

Maximum Penalties

• £1,000 Fine (increased to £5,000 when Licensing Act 2003 comes into effect)
• Loss of Licence

Useful Links
[Note: These links will open in a new window]


Alcohol Concern


Drinkaware


Portman Group


Mind Body & Soul

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