Id Cards The Key To Stop Alcohol Sales To Children

Survey reveals unprecedented public support

A massive 91% of the British public believe that wider use of ID cards could help to slash the scale of our underage drinking problem. And 83% think the cards should be compulsory.

These are two of the key findings of a new survey conducted by MORI and commissioned by sensible drinking campaigners, The Portman Group.

The survey also showed very strong backing (88%) for tougher penalties for retailers who sell booze to children. And two-thirds support measures allowing the police to use young teenagers to pose as customers in organised swoops to root out rogue retailers.

Portman Group Director Jean Coussins said:

"These results should give the green light to the Government to put an end to the arguments over ID cards for proof of age purposes. This is one solid measure against underage alcohol misuse which could have a decisive impact.

New licensing laws are being considered which would put a 'positive duty' on retailers to be satisfied that a customer is old enough to buy alcohol. We have told the Home Office today that this will only work in practice if the over 18s have a proof of age ID card which they receive automatically.

Younger children would then be deterred from trying to buy. And staff in pubs, shops and bars would have a universal system they could rely on.

The public wants ID cards and the licensed trade-unions wants ID cards. The Government should seize the initiative now and provide them".

Other findings of the survey include:

• Four out of five people believe that children today start drinking at a younger age than they did themselves.
• Over three-quarters also believe that children drink more than they did when they were younger, with 'more money to spend' and 'peer pressure' given as the main reasons for this perception.
• Schools and parents were cited as the most important sources of information for children about alcohol and sensible drinking, identified by 82% and 78% of respondents respectively. By contrast, only 25% thought the TV or radio were important.
• Three-quarters of respondents felt that drinking outdoors by under 18s in their area was a problem.
• Children buying alcohol easily from off licences is seen as more of a problem than either underage purchase from supermarkets or drinking by under 18s in pubs (47%, compared to 37% and 31%).
• 82% support keeping the legal purchase age at 18.

Jean Coussins commented:

"The latest Government figures show a significant drop in the numbers of 11 to 15 year olds who drink at all, but the minority who do drink regularly are drinking more per week and more per session. It is vital that schools take notice of the new national curriculum guidelines in force from next September and get more and better information about the use and misuse of alcohol across to these children."

Further sections of the survey will be published over the next 6 months, covering public attitudes and perceptions on the following topics: crime and disorder; health and sensible drinking; the drinks industry. The first section, General Attitudes, was published on 23 June 2000 and is available via The Portman Group's website at www.portman-group.org.uk

Technical details

The survey was conducted by MORI, during February and March 2000. A representative sample of 1,511 members of the general public aged 18+ was interviewed in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in the home, in 115 randomly selected Enumeration Districts (EDs). Quotas were set for each ED using 1991 Census data to reflect the profile of the area. Data have been weighted by age, sex and work status to match the known national population profile.