Byers eyes Breezers'

It's not every day that a drink becomes a byword for a whole new voting generation. But Bacardi Breezer drinkers could be the latest target of Labour's voting campaign in a bid to woo the nation's teenagers. Former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers has warned that Labour must connect with what has been dubbed the "Bacardi Breezer generation" if it wants to stay in power. Named after their favourite alcopop, the Bacardi Breezers are aged between 18 and 25, were barely toddling when Margaret Thatcher was in her prime, have been raised in a time of relative economic prosperity and take high unemployment and low interest rates for granted. Bacardi Martini has approved of the use of its popular alcopop's name as a shorthand term for a generation of voters. A spokesman said: "Bacardi Breezer was the first drink of its kind when it was launched and over the last 10 years has amassed wide appeal among 18 to 24-year-olds. The fact that it is being used as a moniker to describe the generation reaching voting age is testimony to its lively, optimistic spirit." Byers said Labour had to find a way of directly addressing their concerns and talking about practical things where politicians can make a difference to them. "There is a danger we could be witnessing a whole generation being lost to our democratic political process and not seeing it as relevant to their world," he said. The Electoral Commission is currently spearheading a project to increase turnout among the young, including questioning whether 16-year-olds should be given the vote.