Lowering the limit
Phil Dixon wonders whether it's time the legal drinking age was brought down to encourage tippling teenagers off the streets and into pubs
After the "wonderful" summer, smoking ban, increased insurance premiums and yet more police calls to raise the drinking age, I was considering proposing that the BII sends all licensee members complimentary Horlicks to help them sleep.
I eventually decided against the idea as I am sure at least one pubco would probably argue they are tied for the product already.
On the subject of policemen, I had an enjoyable lunch with the BII's West Midlands secretary, John Humphries, formerly a West Mercia licensing and police officer for more than 35 years:
"There is a question I've really been wanting to ask you, John. It is true, is it not, that the 1964 act allowed 16 to 17-year-olds to have access to limited alcohol, beer, cider etc, if they are in the presence of an adult and eating a meal in a separate area set aside for dining?"
"Correct," acknowledged John.
"Are you aware of any incident involving 16 to 17-year-olds when drinking within the constraints of the old act?"
"No, none whatsoever," he replied.
I then contacted that wise sage, the lawyer Jeremy Allen.
He can't remember any issues involving 16 to 17-year-olds consuming or purchasing (no longer permitted) beer etc legitimately under either the 1964 or 2003 Act.
So, trade leaders of the great and good, are we not missing an opportunity? When headline-seeking politicos go on and on about teenage drinking, have we not got a proven track record of 43 years of controlled, supervised and good behaviour of 16 to 17-year-olds in our pubs?
May I pose the question: which is healthier for our society, 16 to 17-year-olds being bought a limited range of alcohol in a professional environment or nipping round the back of a bike shed, in a park or up an alley and - according to local teachers - drinking neat vodka or similar products till they fall over, vomit - or worse?
In respect of teenage drinking there is a self-inflicted issue. Which country educated a generation to fast-track to vodka via alcopops? Which, apart from Ireland and Greece, is the only European country to show an increase in spirit consumption per person from 1990 to 2004?
Is the steep rise in liver complaints among young people in the 1990s, compared to the 1970s, and the introduction of alcopops merely a coincidence?
Politicians appear to look to North America or Down Under for examples of how we should amend our drinking laws. Let's consider the legal drinking age in bars in neighbouring countries across Europe:
Austria - 16 to drink in bars (15 in some areas)
Belgium - 18 for spirits, 16 for beer and wine
Denmark - 16
France - 16
Germany - 18 for spirits, 16 for beer and wine
if accompanied
Ireland - 18
Italy - 16
Luxembourg - 18 with a supervised allowance for 17-year-olds
Netherlands - 18 for spirits, 16 for drinks below 15% abv
Norway - 20 for spirits, 18 for beer and wine
Poland - 18
Portugal - 16
Spain - 16 to 18, depending on region
Sweden - 20 for spirits, 18 for beers (3.5% abv)
From my limited research, I have to conclude that allowing 16-year-olds to drink, irrespective of whether they are dining in our bars, would not be out of step with a majority of our fellow EU states.
Then there's the question of training. As chairman of Marston's Awards 2007 I have been privileged to visit more than 60 pubs in the past 10 weeks.
Most proudly displayed the qualifications of their workers. How does this compare with Europe? I decided on a quick fact-finding visit to St Omer (France), Leuven (Belgium), Maastricht (Holland) and Dusseldorf (Germany).
Now, I know in these countries some courses have to be undertaken, but the evidence indicates that the UK sector is at least as qualified, if not more so, as its European counterparts.
As long as we have a decent ID system, I believe there is a clear case for extending the age limit for drinking alcohol to the age of 16 in the professional supervised environment of our pubs and bars.
Our police officers should look across 21 miles of water for solutions rather than to countries thousands of miles away.
l Incidentally, in Leuven I finally settled a bet. UK Licensee of the Year 2006 Richard Macey, and many others, pronounce Leffe with an accentuated acute "e" on the end - ie "Leffay". After serious investigative and almost socially responsible sampling may I point out the correct Flemish pronunciation is "Leffer".
phildixoncmbii@aol.com
