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Under-18s may face new drink ban Under-18s may face new drink ban
(about 1 hour later)
Police powers to confiscate alcohol from under-18s could be extended, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is urging police to confiscate alcohol from any under-18 who has it in a public place.
Officers can already take alcohol from youngsters in public places if they are suspected of crime or disorder. Officers can currently take alcohol from youngsters in public if they have "reasonable suspicion" they have been drinking or are going to drink it.
Ms Smith said she was reminding police to use those powers but also wanted to "look at" tightening laws to stop any under-18s carrying alcohol in public. But Ms Smith says she will "look at" removing that caveat to help police in England and Wales tackle the "problem".
She told the BBC: "If young people shouldn't be drinking it, I don't think they should be possessing it either." She also said the impact on crime and disorder of 24-hour licensing laws had not been as "dramatic" as some feared.
Ms Smith's comments come ahead of a planned half-term crackdown - she has written to all police chiefs reminding them not only of their powers, but to suggest they use them during the week-long school break. Ms Smith's comment came ahead of the publication later this month of the official reviews of the impact of the Licensing Act.
The main bulk of Ms Smith's speech focused on measures to tackle under-age and binge drinking.
Ms Smith said she had written to all police chiefs reminding them not only of their powers on under-age drinking but also to stop drinking in problem areas and to close down "dodgy premises".
Parenting ordersParenting orders
She said that a month-long crackdown between October and November last year saw officers seizing the equivalent of 6,500 pints of alcohol from under-age drinkers. She said that a month-long crackdown between October and November last year in England and Wales saw officers seizing the equivalent of 6,500 pints of alcohol from under-age drinkers.
Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast: "The confiscation is certainly a campaign that we'll be running from next week and for a period of time.Ms Smith told BBC Breakfast: "The confiscation is certainly a campaign that we'll be running from next week and for a period of time.
I want to look at whether or not we should tighten up possession of alcohol for young people in public under the age of 18. Jacqui SmithHome SecretaryI want to look at whether or not we should tighten up possession of alcohol for young people in public under the age of 18. Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
"It does make a difference, because it makes it very clear that young people should not be drinking alcohol on the streets with the sort of concerns that brings to local communities and the potential for them to go on and get involved in crime and disorder.""It does make a difference, because it makes it very clear that young people should not be drinking alcohol on the streets with the sort of concerns that brings to local communities and the potential for them to go on and get involved in crime and disorder."
Ms Smith also suggested that wider powers might be needed in the future: "At the moment police have to have suspicion that this alcohol is going to be used.Ms Smith also suggested that wider powers might be needed in the future: "At the moment police have to have suspicion that this alcohol is going to be used.
"I want to look at whether or not we should tighten up possession of alcohol for young people in public under the age of 18.""I want to look at whether or not we should tighten up possession of alcohol for young people in public under the age of 18."
HAVE YOUR SAY Alcohol-fuelled crime seems to be on the increase, so I feel Jacqui Smith's idea is a sound one Graham Rodhouse, Helmond Send us your comments
The home secretary is also demanding that drink manufacturers do more to stop alcohol being sold to under-18s.The home secretary is also demanding that drink manufacturers do more to stop alcohol being sold to under-18s.
And she said she wanted to see greater use of parenting orders - to give training to tackle truancy and anti-social behaviour - for the families of people found drinking in public.And she said she wanted to see greater use of parenting orders - to give training to tackle truancy and anti-social behaviour - for the families of people found drinking in public.
 She said: "Nearly half of the alcohol obtained by young people appears to come from the family home. It's clear that parents have to hear the message as well.
Do you agree with these proposals? Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. "The idea that you can hand your kids a six pack of lager and tell them to disappear off for the evening - with no thought to the consequences - frankly baffles me."
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Her speech was to an audience including police, local authority licensing officers, representatives from the drinks and retail industries and community groups.
She said there would be £875,000 spent on the confiscation campaign starting next week and a multi-million pound Government information campaign from the summer setting out the dangers of binge drinking.