Thousands of children face having a criminal record if they are caught with alcohol, under proposals being considered by ministers.

 

Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said yesterday that Government officials were examining plans to tighten the rules which allow the police to confiscate alcohol from teenagers and are considering making possession of alcohol by under-18s a criminal offence.

 

Should we criminalise teenage drinkers? Do you think that more severe penalties would deter young people from consuming alcohol? Is it unfair to criminalise teenagers who are caught with just one can of larger or a bottle of wine?

 

Do you think the Government should focus on making it harder for teenagers to purchase alcohol? What else could be done to stop young people drinking?

 

Or do we have to accept that experimenting with alcohol in moderation just part of growing up?

 

Source: Sunday telegraph

I think it is far better to focus on those that are actually committing criminal acts under the influence of alcohol as opposed to target a few bored young lads killing time that are doing no harm

 

I would rather for police focused their attention on real crimes

I guess, on the one hand, yes - it's a crime after all. But I agree with Vic, the most important thing is acts as a result of alcohol abuse - some kids having a few beers on the school field on a Friday night isn't causing society a huge nuisance.

 

I can also see that people would say we should focus on 'real' crimes, and while there are people being raped/murdered/assaulted on the streets we should sort that first. But, I'd argue that people will always be murdered etc, and that under age alcoholism is easier to control (in terms of supply, although what about people who buy alcohol for underage kids?) than it is to stop people being murderers? BUT, I guess people could argue that more people underage drink than murder and so in terms of volume, it's more difficult to control a vast number of kids.

 

I guess it's a mentality thing - the UK phenomena of being drunk and lairy is huge, whereas in countries such as France it's not such a big deal - as I understand it they drink alcohol (wine) from a pretty early age, therefore the 'sitting on park benches with a bottle of white lightning' thing isn't important to them. There will always be chavvy kids who think they're "well 'ard" for dossing about, but that's a much bigger problem than we're discussing with alcohol.

God no! It's all part of growing up, i'm sure 90% of ths forum have done it a some point!

 

It's unfair to criminalise teenagers. The only thing that should be done if they get caught is have their drink poured out and then told to go home - which is the right thing to do. I've been caught by the police drinking where you shouldn't be and all they did was tell us to move on, which is the right thing to do.

 

90% of teenagers that get caught drinking are doing no harm and they're just having a bit of fun, yes in some cases it can get out of hand, but police should be focusing their attention on real crimes and not petty stuff like this.

Agree with many of the points expressed in here. With police tied down by so much red tape as it is this idea would only add to it. It also won't break the root of the problem merely making the whole situation more complex and a waste of time for all concerned. Coming down on young drinkers is all very good and well but there's just a tinge of irony if it happens as it comes from a government which legalised all night drinking. Something you can link with FAR more ease to binge drinking.

 

Britain needs a concise alcohol policy to reduce the effects drinking inflicts upon society. Merely penalising teenagers won't change anything.

no

 

its anti-social at worse unless a criminal act has been perpetrated. being drunk is hardly in the same catagory as murderer, rapist, embezeler etc.

 

its probably got more to do with 'easy' targets to reduce crime statistics.

Tbh i think the government is the most control mad load of rubbish there is, if i ever got to meet Gordon Brown id tell him exactly what i thought of his over the top control freak ways.

Most people drink from 15-16 nowadays, everyone knows that, just because a 'few' teenagers cause harm which are always the chavs anyway doesnt mean more stupid laws were brought in, its about time they focused on the real issues as we teenagers are trying to be converted into bloody lap dogs.

Im 16 and drink alcohol, i dont plan on stopping either, its my choice what i do with my life.

The police caught me with posession of alcohol once and made me pour it out, then took me and my friends names & addresses and said we better never be caught with it underage again, pathetic, i think the police are the most sarcastic useless arseholes ever.

My friend was beaten up with about 5 witnesses and they couldnt care less, but a tiny bit of alcohol and the worlds ending.

Rant over :lol:

Absolutely. If they are going to give teenagers criminal records for having a drink in the street then they need to take the legal age to go to a pub down to 16. A very high proportion of 16/17 year olds want to drink - I did too - but it's quite a bit smaller under 16, and I think it's justified to say wait till you are 16.

 

This would mean less kids on the street anyway and it would take away some of the glamour too.

That's it, blame the teenagers. :lol:

 

Because of course, only people from the age of 13 to 21 do drugs, get drunk and cause criminal damage.

Absolutely. If they are going to give teenagers criminal records for having a drink in the street then they need to take the legal age to go to a pub down to 16. A very high proportion of 16/17 year olds want to drink - I did too - but it's quite a bit smaller under 16, and I think it's justified to say wait till you are 16.

 

This would mean less kids on the street anyway and it would take away some of the glamour too.

 

 

I think that might be sensible - if we took away the taboo of drinking at 16, and made that the legal age for consumption, it might mean they're less likely to do it.