The subject of young people and alcohol is rarely out of the headlines these days, so it was refreshing to see a bit of honesty from a Government department on the true picture about teenage drinking. It also points to a less-emphasised part of the law — that underage drinking is not actually illegal. But more of that anon.
A survey reported in this paper found that 53% of under-18s who drink alcohol say they are given it by their parents. Most teenage drinking is done in their own or someone else's home, with only 17% claiming to have drunk alcohol in a pub or bar and 11% at a club or disco.
This suggests to me that parental responsibility for the mixed messages on alcohol is a considerable factor. Judging also from newspaper columnists and commentators — not to mention Tim Martin, who always has a point to make — the attitude towards underage drinking is far from condemnatory even among the older generation, who well remember their first attempts and their first hangover — in every case well before they were 18-years-old.
So we do not have a consistent message to give to the young. As I have often commented before, they do not see the attempt at buying alcohol as anything more serious than a game. They also do not differentiate, as society appears to do, between something that is legal if they do it at home, but illegal if they do it in a pub.
The minimum legal age for the consumption of alcohol is five years old. Below that age it is an offence to give a child alcohol, except in emergency or on the order of a medical practitioner (where is he?). Above that age, however, neither the child nor the parent or friend who gives them alcohol to drink is committing any offence, as long as that supply and consumption takes place in a domestic situation.
It is only in controlled areas such as the pub or club, or the high street, that action can be taken to prevent youngsters drinking. In fact, the fine for permitting consumption of alcohol by someone under 18 on relevant premises is now set at a whopping maximum of £5,000, not to mention the prospect of having your licence reviewed.
The irony is that what parents appear to do regularly, you cannot do in the controlled environment of the pub, because you will be branded a criminal (yes, it is a criminal offence, it goes on your record).
Double standards
Now, we are also twisting the English language to suit the legislators at the Home Office. The word "persistently", according to the dictionary, means "continued steadfastly or obstinately", or "constantly repeated". Not in the Licensing Act, it doesn't. It means twice. So next time someone is shown a red card in a football match, we should call it "persistently fouling opponents". Actually, most aggrieved managers call it unlucky.
So why do we in this country persist in having these double standards? Apparently, the Government is going to launch some football competitions to give kids an interest other than alcohol. With respect, that is hardly the point. We can either forbid consumption below a higher specified age or we emphasise to the young that what they are doing in pubs, clubs and shops is a serious criminal matter for which they can be punished.
It goes against my liberal tendencies to sound so punitive, but I am fed up with seeing the licensed trade pilloried as the only villains in this piece. It is about time some home truths were spelled out to these young drinkers and their parents.