Law may ban alcohol sales to under-21s
Monday 25th July 2011, 2:47PM BST.
Teenagers are more likely to purchase alcohol for underage friends, says the document
TEENAGERS could be banned from buying alcohol in supermarkets and shops under new legislation.
In the States last week, Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean also refused to rule out the possibility of increasing the age limit from 18 to 21 for those buying alcohol for consumption elsewhere.
However, he stressed that the final outcome would be disclosed in a document detailing how the current Licensing Law could be improved. The document will be released to the States in the next few months and follows a green paper detailing possible changes to the law which was released in 2008.
Full story in today’s JEP
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
What difference will that make, there are teenage kids getting drunk on the beach every weekend. The police know it’s happening and do nothing about it.
The propreiters selling to kids should be heavily fined or closed down.
Report abuse
Another gem from Maclean.
Report abuse
What a joke, and how has the current age limit of 18 stopped teenagers drinking.
If it’s the kids chav parents buying it for them then how will this make any difference?
Report abuse
rarely agree with the states but this is decent, the only people who will oppose this are 18, 19 and 20 year olds who want to be able to buy the alcohol.
That said, not all of them are going to cause mayhem after purchasing alcohol.
The select few spoil it for the rest.
Report abuse
A step in the right direction !
Jersey has to have the worst teenagers in Europe, it’s an absolute disgrace to see their behaviour – probably the majority are fine, but the behaviour of few tarnishes the rest
Report abuse
As we have all seen what alcohol and drugs can do to tallented singers, this might be a step in the right direction.
Report abuse
nothing will change , prohibition , did nothing in america also.
Report abuse
Drinking to excess is a personal indiscretion that many of us would have to plead guilty to (on the odd occasion), if we’re honest with ourselves.
However, penalising sensible 18+ drinkers would be unjust and I suspect rather extreme as it is unlikely to resolve the issue of underage drinking. On the contrary, I suspect it would only exacerbate the situation.
If drunkenness is such a problem, why not issue those who wish to drink alcohol under a certain age, say between 16-21, with a “drinking licence” that could be suspended when one is found to be drunk and disorderly.
A suspension may just be a bit more of a deterrent than a fine.
Sadly this would still not stop 12-15 y.o. kids from drinking underage. That will remain a problem that can only be overcome with proper parental supervision.
Report abuse
Brilliant idea this will raise the incidence of under age drinking at a stroke!! But will it be Policed, as it seems that currently it is NOT.
More un policed legislation, more States spending fantastic idea.
Report abuse
Maybe we ‘adults’ should take a look at ourselves. Quite possiblt the antisocial behaviour we observe is just a mirror image of our own.
In my opinion adults are no better when under the influence, possibly worse.
Far better to encourage responsible drinking and address the culture, so maybe it is actually a task for another minister.
Report abuse
@ Michael Eppier
“the worst in Europe”?! That’s a very big claim, and one I would have to totally disagree with. Sounds like the jealous ranting of someone who misses their own youth. And no, I’m not a teenager myself.
@ Perspicuous
I agree, if you go around town on any Friday at around 6pm you will see a hoard of drunks (mainly men) who have worked a half day and then gone and got plastered. People unable to walk straight, vomiting and fighting. Seeing a young person like this is actually far rarer than you might think.
Give the kids a chance, it’s not fair to blame all teenagers for what a few might do.
Report abuse
Another gem from Maclean, that man could not make a decision unless it is OK`d by his ringbinder.
Many 19….20 year olds get married and prepare to accept massive responsibilities but will be unable to buy a drink at their own wedding, these people are really pathetic, just like they waste out time with the “bridge to France” and adopting Continental time zone, it will never happen.
Report abuse
Let me get this straight.
“TEENAGERS could be banned from buying alcohol in supermarkets and shops under new legislation.”
Well presumably 13-17 year olds are CURRENTLY banned considering they are underage….and….18-19 year olds can still drink in a pub anyway!?
Michael Eppier.
What a ridiculous statement to make…..I don’t see large gangs of kids robbing, shooting and mugging people….do you?
Perhaps you need to get out a bit more.
If the States want to encourage responsible drinking then instead of wasting valuable time and tax payers money dreaming up stupid ideas…..how about this for a novel idea…..ENFORCE the CURRENT legislation and punish the serial, anti-social offenders…..too damn simple for these clowns in charge!!!
Report abuse
#13 Parktown, enforcing existing laws involves work! If you create nice simple new laws like this it involves little work but it suggests, to stupid people, that you really care about the issue. And it’s important to look like you care, especially around election times.
Society doesn’t care what’s ACTUALLY happening, it cares about what APPEARS to be happening. That’s why people make a fortune as b***sh*****s (sorry, spin doctors, or public relations officers).
Report abuse