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Tighter alcohol controls rejected Tighter alcohol controls rejected
(about 6 hours later)
Calls for tighter controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship have been rejected by the government.Calls for tighter controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship have been rejected by the government.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said tougher methods to teach children about alcohol and tobacco were needed. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which advises the government, said tougher methods to teach children about alcohol and tobacco were needed.
But Schools Minister Lord Adonis said the government was focusing on existing policies to combat a consumption rise.But Schools Minister Lord Adonis said the government was focusing on existing policies to combat a consumption rise.
British 15-year-olds are among Europe's heaviest users of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco. Fifteen-year-olds in Britain are among Europe's heaviest users of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco.
Our policy is to give primacy to enforcement, to detection and to penalties Lord AdonisSchools minister Drink limit cut dismissed The view from teenagersOur policy is to give primacy to enforcement, to detection and to penalties Lord AdonisSchools minister Drink limit cut dismissed The view from teenagers
In its report, the ACMD called for controls such as raising duty on alcohol, increasing the legal smoking age from 16 to 18, banning alcohol adverts on television and prohibiting alcohol firms from sponsoring sports or music events watched by under-18s. In its report, the advisory council called for controls such as raising duty on alcohol, increasing the legal smoking age from 16 to 18, banning alcohol adverts on television and prohibiting alcohol firms from sponsoring sports or music events watched by under-18s.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture Media and Sport said ministers had "no plans" to ban alcohol adverts or alcohol firms sponsoring events.A spokeswoman for the Department for Culture Media and Sport said ministers had "no plans" to ban alcohol adverts or alcohol firms sponsoring events.
In addition, a proposal by the panel for a new lower drink-drive limit for young adults was immediately ruled out by ministers.In addition, a proposal by the panel for a new lower drink-drive limit for young adults was immediately ruled out by ministers.
"It is incumbent on us to state our policy and our policy is to give primacy to enforcement, to detection and to penalties and we believe that that's going to have the most effect," Lord Adonis said."It is incumbent on us to state our policy and our policy is to give primacy to enforcement, to detection and to penalties and we believe that that's going to have the most effect," Lord Adonis said.
However, he said, the panel had urged the government to pay much more attention to best practice in drugs education in schools "and we do take that on board".However, he said, the panel had urged the government to pay much more attention to best practice in drugs education in schools "and we do take that on board".
HAVE YOUR SAY The more available you make drink, the worse the problem will get. Stephen Reimer, East Grinstead Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The more available you make drink, the worse the problem will get. Stephen Reimer, East Grinstead Send us your comments
Between a fifth and a quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers, half drink alcohol at least once a week and nearly a quarter have used illegal drugs in the past month, the panel said.Between a fifth and a quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers, half drink alcohol at least once a week and nearly a quarter have used illegal drugs in the past month, the panel said.
While the panel said that children should be given drugs advice, many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, and they should also be targeted.While the panel said that children should be given drugs advice, many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, and they should also be targeted.
Having reviewed research from across the world, the committee of doctors and scientists concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive".Having reviewed research from across the world, the committee of doctors and scientists concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive".
REALITY CHECK Smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers, on averageThe addiction is the cause of 29% of all UK cancer deathsCigarettes have killed about 6m people in the last 50 yearsAlcohol misuse leads to up to 22,000 deaths a yearDrink plays a role in about third of domestic violence casesThe NHS spends up to £1.7bn a year on alcohol misuse cases Sources: Cancer Research UK, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Drink message 'gets through' Brewers defend sponsorshipREALITY CHECK Smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers, on averageThe addiction is the cause of 29% of all UK cancer deathsCigarettes have killed about 6m people in the last 50 yearsAlcohol misuse leads to up to 22,000 deaths a yearDrink plays a role in about third of domestic violence casesThe NHS spends up to £1.7bn a year on alcohol misuse cases Sources: Cancer Research UK, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Drink message 'gets through' Brewers defend sponsorship
Its chairman, Dr Laurence Gruer, said urgent action was needed to deal with alcohol use.Its chairman, Dr Laurence Gruer, said urgent action was needed to deal with alcohol use.
"We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years, particularly among young women, our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled."We've seen over the last 10 to 12 years, particularly among young women, our consumption of alcohol has virtually doubled.
"We are also seeing across the whole of the UK a dramatic rise in the amount of cirrhosis of the liver that's caused by chronic drinking and we are now the fastest growing country in Europe in terms of alcoholic cirrhosis.""We are also seeing across the whole of the UK a dramatic rise in the amount of cirrhosis of the liver that's caused by chronic drinking and we are now the fastest growing country in Europe in terms of alcoholic cirrhosis."
Alison Rogers from the British Liver Trust told BBC News 24 young people were affected by alcohol both in the short and long term.Alison Rogers from the British Liver Trust told BBC News 24 young people were affected by alcohol both in the short and long term.
"It affects them acutely in short bursts when they drink and then they fall over, injure their faces, get involved in sexual incidents, get involved in violence," she said."It affects them acutely in short bursts when they drink and then they fall over, injure their faces, get involved in sexual incidents, get involved in violence," she said.
"But then it affects them longer term ... which is that young people are getting into drinking patterns which are quickly turning into social problems in their 40s and 50s.""But then it affects them longer term ... which is that young people are getting into drinking patterns which are quickly turning into social problems in their 40s and 50s."
The 100-page report had other recommendations including:The 100-page report had other recommendations including:
  • a ban on alcohol advertising on TV and at most cinemas
  • a ban on alcohol advertising on TV and at most cinemas
  • forcing shopkeepers to demand proof of age and greater use of under-age test purchases
  • forcing shopkeepers to demand proof of age and greater use of under-age test purchases
  • stopping the use of drug testing and sniffer dogs in schools
  • stopping the use of drug testing and sniffer dogs in schools
    • The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis.The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis.
    In response to the report, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said it backed moves preventing young people accessing tobacco, but it was up to the government to decide at what age the threshold should be.In response to the report, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said it backed moves preventing young people accessing tobacco, but it was up to the government to decide at what age the threshold should be.