Cracking down on underage drinking
Tuesday September 29, 2009
The Gloucester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) is cracking down on underage drinking and the associated problems by launching a campaign highlighting the dangers and consequences of selling alcohol or buying alcohol for under 18s.
The campaign will be launched at Tesco in Quedgeley on Friday October 2 between 3pm and 6pm.
Tesco have supplied shopping vouchers to the value of £50, £25 and £10 (for non age restricted goods) as prizes for a quiz to encourage residents to get involved with the campaign.
The quiz will test how much you know about alcohol and can also be entered online at www.gloscrimereduction.org.uk.
CDRP officers from the city council, officers from Gloucester Police, Trading Standards Officers and drug and alcohol workers will be at the event to offer advice to members of the public.
Every licensed premise in Gloucester, including pubs, clubs, corner shops and supermarkets has been given posters and promotional material by the CDRP to make staff and members of the public aware of the campaign.
The campaign has two aspects – “Don’t Buy 4 U18” and “Challenge 25”.
Adults sometimes purchase alcohol for young people under the age of 18 without realising that it is a criminal offence. Anyone caught buying alcohol for an underage person could be given an instant £80 fixed penalty notice, a £5000 fine in court and could even get a criminal record.
The second part of the campaign is “Challenge 25” whereby licensed premises will ask to see the photographic ID of any person who appears to be under 25 and is attempting to purchase age restricted items.
“Challenge 21” was launched in Gloucester in September 2005 and has been very successful with support across pubs and clubs as well as supermarkets and off licence premises.
However, as the personal consequences of illegal sales for the sales assistant are severe, retailers have requested a program which gives them greater backing and a higher margin of error in challenging customers for proof of age.
Gloucester CDRP has also funded a drama presentation called “Last Orders” that will be taken into secondary schools in Gloucester to demonstrate the consequences of binge drinking.