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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Crackdown on under-age drinkers | Crackdown on under-age drinkers |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Police confiscated 44,000 pints of alcoholic drinks during a crackdown on under-age drinking in February. | Police confiscated 44,000 pints of alcoholic drinks during a crackdown on under-age drinking in February. |
| The 25,000 litres of drinks - mainly beer and cider - were seized during a two-week operation involving 39 forces in England and Wales. | The 25,000 litres of drinks - mainly beer and cider - were seized during a two-week operation involving 39 forces in England and Wales. |
| It was the largest ever enforcement operation of its kind, with alcohol seized from more than 5,000 youths. | It was the largest ever enforcement operation of its kind, with alcohol seized from more than 5,000 youths. |
| The Home Office said information from the £700,000 operation would help target individuals and trouble spots. | The Home Office said information from the £700,000 operation would help target individuals and trouble spots. |
| Seventy per cent of the drink seized was beer, 15 % cider, 5% alcopops, 5% wine and 5% spirits. | Seventy per cent of the drink seized was beer, 15 % cider, 5% alcopops, 5% wine and 5% spirits. |
| When police asked the under-age drinkers where the alcohol came from, 70% refused to say, while of the remaining 30% half said they got the drink from a shop. | When police asked the under-age drinkers where the alcohol came from, 70% refused to say, while of the remaining 30% half said they got the drink from a shop. |
| 'Loophole' | 'Loophole' |
| Frank Soodean, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern which campaigns against alcohol misuse, said the government needed to look at a loophole in the law surrounding the sale of alcohol. Kids are smart. They seem to have cottoned on to this loophole Frank Soodean, Alcohol Concern | Frank Soodean, a spokesman for Alcohol Concern which campaigns against alcohol misuse, said the government needed to look at a loophole in the law surrounding the sale of alcohol. Kids are smart. They seem to have cottoned on to this loophole Frank Soodean, Alcohol Concern |
| "As stores have tightened their sales policies, teenagers appear to be more reliant on a mix of rogue retailers and, increasingly, adults who've either been cajoled or bullied into buying it on their behalf. | "As stores have tightened their sales policies, teenagers appear to be more reliant on a mix of rogue retailers and, increasingly, adults who've either been cajoled or bullied into buying it on their behalf. |
| "It hardly seems appropriate for an older cousin to get away with a £50 fine when stores face penalties of up to £5,000 for selling drinks to the under-age. | "It hardly seems appropriate for an older cousin to get away with a £50 fine when stores face penalties of up to £5,000 for selling drinks to the under-age. |
| "Kids are smart. They seem to have cottoned on to this loophole." | "Kids are smart. They seem to have cottoned on to this loophole." |
| Mr Soodean added that the figures should also put an end to the stereotype that all teenagers just drank alcopops. | Mr Soodean added that the figures should also put an end to the stereotype that all teenagers just drank alcopops. |
| "So much of the industry's self-regulation is based on the false premise that only drinks that have cutesy cartoon characters on their labels should be censured," he said. | "So much of the industry's self-regulation is based on the false premise that only drinks that have cutesy cartoon characters on their labels should be censured," he said. |
| "The fact is teens in many cases are drinking exactly the same labels you'd expect a twenty-something to buy." | "The fact is teens in many cases are drinking exactly the same labels you'd expect a twenty-something to buy." |
| 'Targeting retailers' | 'Targeting retailers' |
| Chris Allison, deputy assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers on licensing issues. | Chris Allison, deputy assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, speaks for the Association of Chief Police Officers on licensing issues. |
| He said officers up and down the country were making use of the powers they had to confiscate alcohol from those under the age of 18. | He said officers up and down the country were making use of the powers they had to confiscate alcohol from those under the age of 18. |
| "The results announced today give a clear indication of the issue that we are dealing with. | "The results announced today give a clear indication of the issue that we are dealing with. |
| "We will continue to use these powers, as well as targeting those retailers who still sell to those who are under-age." | "We will continue to use these powers, as well as targeting those retailers who still sell to those who are under-age." |
| A Home Office spokesman said information gathered by police during the operation would help them target individuals and trouble spots in future. | A Home Office spokesman said information gathered by police during the operation would help them target individuals and trouble spots in future. |