MyShout

As underage drinking is blamed for social ills, the pub needs to assert itself, says Ken Lupton

I was horrified by the recent murder of Garry Newlove by marauding youths while defending his property. Somewhat predictably, it's alleged that some of the violent behaviour was fuelled by alcohol.

While there are questions about personal and parental responsibility, it would be foolish to deny that a real problem exists with youths and alcohol. It is hard to disagree with Cheshire's chief constable, Peter Fahy, that cheap alcohol is fuelling the situation. It's an odd situation when beer costs less than bottled water.

However much the press clamour for "crackdowns" and politicians talk of sanctions such as raising the legal drinking age to 21, banning alcohol consumption in public places and implementing substantial tax increases, these are more hindrance than help.

They are knee-jerk reactions to treat symptoms. Youths on the streets are buying drink from supermarkets and off-licences, and through over-18s who buy on their behalf. (It was good to hear that fact being acknowledged by both the police and a Home Office minister interviewed on the Today programme.) Why isn't drink-related youth violence common on the Continent, where drink is cheaper? Why don't the police make more effective use of their existing powers? Would higher alcohol prices fuel a crime wave or turn kids towards less expensive, but illegal drugs?

Unfortunately, law-abiding people who enjoy a drink will have their enjoyment curtailed or made more expensive because of a few idiots. Politicians will leap at any chance to increase taxes - to protect us from our hedonistic ways, you understand.

A recent news item featured a rural pub that had introduced a post office and store. The "Pub is the Hub" team did a great job portraying the positive community role of rural pubs. Then there was a rural community in Yorkshire that successfully fought to stop their local being converted into flats. One couldn't help but notice the difference in approach to the attractions of a well-run pub and the problems of alcohol use. Pubs good - alcohol bad.

The pub has to assert itself as the valuable asset that it is. Pubs are run by trained professionals who stand to lose everything by serving youths and thugs. The pub is the home of responsible drinking.

We can't let pubs be caught up in the cheap alcohol debate. We may sell many of the same products that fuel the idiots, but pubs offer safe, clean, regulated and controlled environments to sell a product that people, young and old, enjoy in moderate quantities, while the yobs down rocket fuel in supermarket car parks. Yet unless we differentiate the pub from the problem, we risk being caught in the crossfire.

More than ever, we need to champion the social benefits of having a drink in the local. The pub industry, as opposed to the drinks industry, must combat negative coverage. Solutions to underage drinking must be targeted. Pubs are not that target.