Drink Drive crackdown throughout June
Police officers will be out in force throughout June to detect drink and drug drivers across the country, reports the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). A similar 30 day scheme ran last year in which just under 101,000 people were stopped and tested, with 5.6% testing positive or refusing a test.
A DirectGov Drink Driving page contains facts and information including limits and penalties.
Minimum pricing posed to BBC Question Time panel
Following last week's news of alcohol-related hospital admissions passing the one million mark, the BBC Question Time panel were asked if it was time to follow Scotland's lead in seeeking a minimum price. See here for the video. Pricing and taxation measures appeared largely unsupported by the panel, with Conservative MP Louise Bagshawe suggesting pricing was a "restriction on civil liberties", but favoured consideration of a 21 minimum drinking age. Other panelists called upon the need for a "cultural shift", largely without suggesting how that might be achieved.
Trade and industry news
Trade leaders continue to speak out for tougher action on supermarkets criticising voluntary regulation as "not going to work", reports the Morning Advertiser (MA). Last week Health Secretary asked supermarkets to take further action, which one trade chief described as only the "tip of the iceberg".
The WSTA is launching a fraud prevention unit to crackdown on fraud in the wine and spirits sectors - see MA report. A Tesco 'till-error' which led to a mistaken offer of three crates of beer for £11, rather than £20, caused congestion in Greenock after word of the deal got out - MA report. A new range of beer aimed at women is to be released as part of new drive of products from Molson Coors. The BII are holding seminars this month on the changes due to the Licensing Act.
Scotland
Local Authroities in Scotland could soon be taking measures to ban under 21s from purchasing alcohol from supermarket and off-licenses, reports The Herald. The powers can only be enforced on stores that have previously sold to under 18s, or where there is a local problem with teenage drinking. The Scottish Government are understood to have said authorities already have had the power to vary the conditions of a licence, including restricting sales by age, under 2005 legislation.
The Herald has also reported that the SNP are also considering banning alcohol sales from self-service tills due to links to underage sales.
Alcohol Focus Scotland is working to clarify and provide practical advice on the taking a public health approach in licensing. An expert group is being set up to support licensing boards after their understanding of the protection of public health licensing objective was found to be widely varied.
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