Police and MP disagree over drinking

3:30pm Saturday 26th July 2008

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POLICE have disagreed with the local MP that underage drinking is still a huge problem in St Albans.

MP for St Albans Anne Main challenged the Home Office minister during the Parliamentary Questions session last Tuesday to combat the problem of underage drinkers gaining access to alcohol from unscrupulous shops and off-licences.

She called on the Government for tougher penalties for those who dispensed alcohol to young people and claimed the “pile it high, sell it cheap” method of selling alcohol, rather than the existence of licensed premises, was the root of the problem.

“My constituency is experiencing significant problems involving young people drinking alcohol in public places, often hidden in drinks such as orange juice,” she said.

She said young people are getting hold of alcohol very easily from small shops and off-licences which she believes is “a very serious problem”.

“Anyone who has passed through the Abbey Orchard, or our other parks, on a Friday or Saturday night will be aware of the large groups of underage drinkers who congregate there – and the mess their discarded drinks containers can cause the next day,” said Mrs Main.

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it routinely works with Trading Standards to carry out proactive operations targeting those responsible for selling alcohol to youths.

Officers regularly carry out high visibility patrols across the district, seizing any alcohol from any underage drinkers.

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said: “Underage drinking is not a specific problem that affects the St Albans area as we work very closely with other agencies to robustly deal with it.

“Officers patrol the district’s parks, including the Abbey Orchard, and often find young people congregating but not committing crime,” added the spokesman.

The police meet with young people and educate them about the dangers and consequences of drinking alcohol and many of them participate in positive, organised activities.

Mrs Main said she was not criticising the work of the police and knows they are working hard but wants the Government’s help in tackling premises in small communities that are selling alcohol illegally.

She added: “I think the Government needs to assess the reality that many licensed premises are still selling alcohol illegally to under-18s. We need a zero-tolerance approach to this and the anti-social behaviour that occurs as a result.”