'Alcohol licence to stop underage drinking'

03-May-2010 - Last updated on 27-Aug-2011 at 07:35 GMT

Cans could be traced back to the adult purchaser

A child protection group has called for the introduction of an alcohol licence to stop adults buying drink for under-18s. Fair Play for Children...

A child protection group has called for the introduction of an alcohol licence to stop adults buying drink for under-18s.

Fair Play for Children wants all adults to have an alcohol swipe card, which they would have to produce when buying alcohol in pubs and shops.

When under-18s are found with alcohol, police would be able to trace cans and bottles back to the adult who purchased them and take appropriate action.

If cardholders were found guilty of infringements such as supplying under-18s, drink driving and public order offences, the card would be suspended for a set period of time or indefinitely.

Fair Play said the card could cost £18-£20 with the alcohol industry funding much of the cost.

The group said it had secured support for the idea from 36% of prospective parliamentary candidates.

"This is far and away our most controversial proposal, yet it commands a good deal of support," said Fair Play national secretary Jan Cosgrove.

"We have put it forward for discussion and we think it has real merit, but we also know it is not perfect.

"What it does recognise is the need to have a system which acknowledge the right of responsible adults to drink and at the same time sanctions those who are irresponsible enough to permit alcohol to fall into the hands of children."

Morning Advertiser readers gave the proposal short shrift.

Richard Yates said: "And just how will it be traceable back without the need to repackage every single alcoholic product in the country and all imports so they all carry a unique number. These guys are bonkers!"

J Mark Dodds said: "It's difficult to know where to start or end with this. It's so ridiculous it would be inspiration for Franz Kafka.

"Such comprehensively silly ideas are proposed in a eureka moment in a committee meeting. Normally they would be consigned to the 'nice but impossible ideas' pile along with sky bolts, time travel and perpetual motion machines."

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