Public wants tighter controls on underage drinking

Nearly half of all adults want to see tighter controls on underage drinking in pubs, according to a new report.

A survey of 980 people by research firm Key Note found that out of all the current issues affecting pubs, 47 per cent of people wanted more control over underage drinking.

The issue of binge-drinking closely followed with 44 per cent calling for more control over the phenomenon.

However the report acknowledges that the media's coverage of the new licensing laws may have impacted on the public's perception of the problems of binge-drinking and underage drinking.

This is despite the pub trade making a significant effort to address the problem of underage drinking in the last few years, with the Challenge 21 scheme currently being heavily touted in pubs.

David Hoyle, licensee at the Old Yew Tree Inn, in Derbyshire, recognises that underage drinking is still a big issue for the trade. "We do not have a problem with it here, but it does concern people," he said. "Youngsters are maturing earlier these days and pubs need to be particularly careful when they are busy that they are still checking people's ID."

Mark Hastings, communications director at the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "The eradication of underage sales is a priority to those in the trade, which is why Challenge 21 was launched. There's a broad recognition we don't get it right often enough, but we are determined to address the issue."

When it comes to more traditional improvements, the maintenance of toilets was customers' biggest concern. Almost as many men (39 per cent) as women (41 per cent) were concerned about this. The next biggest concern was a desire to "return to a more traditional type of pub", with 29 per cent wanting to see this happen. While 28 per cent of the respondents said they would like to see better food in pubs. Only 15 per cent wanted a pub to be more suited to their age group.