Off-licences asked not to sell to under 21s

Under 21-year-olds are to be banned from buying alcohol in the off-trade in a new scheme that echoes controversial proposals in Scotland.

The scheme will see off-licences asked not to sell to young adults as part of a voluntary trial to cut binge drinking.

Though the pilot will start in the south London borough of Croydon, it could well be rolled out across London after Mayor Boris Johnson gave it his backing yesterday.

At Mayor's question time on Wednesday, Mr Johnson told Croydon councillor Steve O'Connell it was "a very interesting" solution to the "huge problem" of binge-drinking.

He said: "I do think that we have got a huge problem with binge drinking, underage drinking and general abuse of alcohol in this city, and I certainly think that this idea is a very interesting one.

"Where we have got particular problems in particular areas, off-licences and supermarkets should stop the sale of alcohol to the under-21s. That is the kind of solution that I think Londoners are looking to us to provide. I do think this is something where the boroughs can take a lead and banish the scourge of binge drinking."

Steve O'Connell, who is also GLA member for Croydon and Sutton said: "We've had a successful voluntary scheme for the past two or three years where pubs and clubs ask peoples' age and won't serve to under 21s. It won't take a huge leap of faith to broach it in the off-trade.

"I was very pleased with Boris' measured response."

However, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), Nick Bish cautiously welcomed the news.

"As we at ALMR have long known, low-cost sales for unsupervised drinking is fuelling binge drinking in the young. We look with interest at any initiative that addresses these irresponsible buying and selling practices.

"However we are cautious of the potential for this voluntary scheme to become legislation in what is an already over-legislated industry, and would take this opportunity to remind the bureaucrats that pubs and bars are in fact twice licensed already."