Call to ban under 21's purchasing alchohol from off licenses

[chuckskull]

If the age goes up the same problems will persist. Look how well the age limit works on under18's for example.

Rather than trying to change the law to make the job easier and shift the blame the police should combat the anti-social behaviour itself. I think almost everyone has a group of drunks outside their local off licence, increasing the drinking age wont change that. Having a van full of coppers turn up and arrest them for drunk and disorderly a few nights running will stop most of them.

That's how they did it round here and my mum walks around here gone 11 often, never has a spot of trouble, because they've all either found something better to do or somewhere better to drink, like indoors

It only took a 2 week crackdown as they called it. Just just went from offy to offy, moving people along and carting people off dependant on their attitude.

Laws don't work, policing works. Quoted from the lovely PC Brown. One of the local bobbies who's actually a nice guy.

[merdat]

Putting the age up to 21 will not help. Answer is as Chuckskull says ' sort the problem where the problem exists ' with positive policing .

[[GSV]Trig]

I'm of the old school - Grab and belt em. Teach them that they can't get away with it but then i'd be the one up in court.

Yup, and the worse bit is oyu have to let them hit you first and your not allowed to go OTT in your retaliation, my dad got in a scuff once, soem guy tried to start on him, my dad moved and twatted the guy, but as he'd dodged the initial attack and technically laid the first hit he got fined for it..

[roorooroo]

England's going downhill.

[GeorgeTuk]

Stick?? We soft in this country, the stick wilted into a feather. The problem is we are focussing in the wrong places and getting laws like No Smoking in bars and owrkplaces with a myriad of laws and fines but all the kids smashing up phone boxes get away with it. When I was younger if I smashed something I knew I would be paying for it or end up in the nick, therefore I didn't break phone boxes or bus stops. Now they know they will get away scot free they do what they like. Luckily its not too bad in my area but I know its worse near my family.

[Clunk]

On the spot fines for looking shifty... simple.

Yes!

What human rights?

And on the spot fines for wanting human rights

[ACiD303]

I think they operate this in some shops already, like Co-ops.

I was trying to buy a 4 pack of Tiger a couple of months ago.....being closer to 30 than I am 21, I naturally don't carry ID. However, I was asked for ID to 'prove' I'm over 21. So I do what I usually do when I get asked and tell them "Look, this is how old I am" and produce a full paper drivers license that's about to fall apart.

So it's not a photo ID, so I get out my student card, which matches the name. Not enough, fair enough - the till assistant says she doesn't doubt I'm the age I've tried to prove, so I ask to speak to the manager.

The manager wasn't even helpful, she said she personally accepts that I am over 21, but since I cannot prove it I cannot be sold alcohol. Ensue argument . . . (over 4 bloody bottles of Tiger).

The guy behind (who I was talking to when waiting on the manager) then offered to pay for the beers as he had a photo license (and ironically, was younger than me) . . . at which point the manager said, "I'm afraid I can't allow anyone to buy drinks on behalf of a minor" . . . A *minor*?!?!?!?!! Man, that was just insulting.

Now, fair enough the till assistant can get fined for selling alcohol to underagers, but I think a little but of common sense should be used and people who are undeniably over 21 shouldn't be patronised.

[Steve B]

i used to work in Gamestation, where one of the older members of staff ID'd somebody who was trying to buy a GTA game. He turned out to be 34

[Dareos]

In certain States and Cities in the US its policy to ID everyone. I got ID'ed at many clubs bars and restaurants, and at the same pub 12 days in a row (on the 13th night my passport was in my travelling bag, but they let me off)

[Gr44]

I'm 20 and to be honest I would be insulted if they said I _couldn't_ buy alcohol from an off-license.

Although I understand the reason behind why they are looking at doing it - I work my 40-50 hour weeks and pay my way in life, I don't see why I should lose my privaledges because of a minority of idiots who are un-able to do something useful in society.

I don't tend to get ID'd but I'm not concerned if I do, but after being ID'd and being REFUSED to buy a six-pack, but being able to goto a pub and buy a pint ? There are so many things wrong with that I can't even be bothered to start!

[Ferral]

See, kids round our way don't go for the cider etc. They are being supplied with cans and bottles of lager. Most of them can't stand straight. You are right with what you say though Knoxy, whether they are drinking or not they still are making public nuisance of themselves. Alcohol just seems to spur them on.

[0iD]

I agree with Ferral, I live in a small village in suffolk with a similar prob. Imo, alcohol just exacerbates the problem, a drunk yob is more likely to do something stupid than a sober one. Alcohol is after all a depresant, you've got to wonder what long term damage they are doing to themselves.
However it is a grass roots problem, one that's always existed in some form or another over time. You have to treat the cause of the problem not the symptom, ie yobishness. It has to come from both government & comunity level. Why are they there? They've got sod-all else to do, so someone, be that one person, a gorup or commitee has to change that. Ther will of course always be yobs, no matter what you do, it's part of human nature, but you could try giving those who show an interest in changing a chance to do so.

[Ferral]

I think the way forward is giving the police more power to deal with these kids that are hanging about. At the minute all they can do is move them on but nothing else at all, they should be given the power to arrest these kids that are being anti social. Maybe then they will get the message.

[0iD]

True, kids know that whatever happens the police can't really do anything & asbo's don't seem to work. Back to the days of the 'short sharp shock'? Sling them in borstal for some Bad Lads Army style military training?

[vc54321]

maybe the police should target the parents of these kids, like the way they have done with truancy

[0iD]

Some kids are just way out of control, nothing my parents could have done would have affected the way i was as a teen for sure. Punishing them would have amused me loads tbh. In the end I turned out ok, but some form of meaningful punishment would in hindsight have curbed my wayward attitude.