Taking booze away won’t reduce underage drinking, says drug and alcohol charity’

Today’s speech by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith simply re-states existing powers of the police which have limited impact on reducing under-age drinking, says Addaction, Britain’s biggest specialist drug and alcohol charity. It welcomes the ‘stepping up’ of efforts to tackle under-age drinking, but says this approach must be backed up with support for young people and parents to tackle problems with alcohol.

Responding to today’s speech by the Home Secretary, Deborah Cameron, Chief Executive of Addaction, said:

“The police already take booze away from young people and fine them, but then nothing else happens. Young people simply move on to different places or spiral into difficulties and end up with a criminal record.

“Changes must actively involve parents. But many parents we work with are desperate to stop their kids drinking and haven’t been taken seriously when they ask for help. Too little investment is going into supporting families to help them to cope.”

“Where Addaction has had success in tackling underage drinking, we have worked hand in hand with local police, using their intelligence to find out what the problems are and to engage with young people in a positive way, which keeps them safe and tackles issues of anti-social behaviour or criminal damage.

“Police have welcomed this approach and found it far more effective than simply issuing fines or confiscating booze.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

· Addaction has nine specialist drug and alcohol treatment services working with several thousand young people under 19 to address problems of drug and alcohol misuse

· In South Lancashire Addaction has worked with police to influence the approach to tackling underage drinking. An ‘engagement with enforcement’ approach involved Addaction project workers accompanying police at local drinking hotspots. As a result of the work, South Lancashire police reported a significant reduction in criminal damage, violent crime, vehicle crime.

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