1. STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CRIME
ALCOHOL
Identifying the role of alcohol is difficult in crime, however it is estimated
78% of assaults and 88% of criminal damage is caused while the offender
is under the influence of alcohol.
Some Current Laws on Alcohol
Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act, 1997
 Police can confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers
Licensing (Scotland) Act from 2009
 No proof of age = no sale
 Must not serve drunk people
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NEW Laws on Alcohol
Shops must have all alcohol displays in one place – not scattered
around the shop
Shops must have signs stating proof of age is required to buy alcohol
Ban on 2-for-1 or multi-buy deals i.e. 3 bottles of wine for £10
Tougher ‘proof of age’ rules in supermarkets (Challenge 25)
Suggested Changes to reduce alcohol abuse
 The Scottish government has confirmed that it wants to set a
minimum price for alcohol (50p) per unit. This will make alcohol
more expensive, encouraging people to drink less.
 Raising the minimum age to buy alcohol from 18 to 21.

2. Should the legal age for buying alcohol be raised to 21?
For
It would help to reduce anti-social
behaviour by making it more
difficult for younger teenagers to
buy alcohol
It would help to reduce
alcoholism and other effects of
alcohol in young people. Health
issues include liver problems.
Against
It will increase illegal drinking.
Underage drinkers will move to
street corners / parks / house
parties
Current level of underage drinking
are increasing, this would just
create a bigger problem as there
would be more people legally
underage to drink
It would help to reduce the
Shows a lack of trust in young
number of crimes fuelled by
people. At 16 they are old enough
alcohol
to get married but at 18 they would
(most crimes are committed by
not be considered legally mature
people aged 16-18)
enough to drink alcohol
It would reduce the number of
European countries with LOWER
road traffic accidents due to
drink ages have less of a problem.
alcohol, as young drivers aged 17- Some argue that lowering the age
20 are the most likely to drink
and allowing social drinking like in
drive
Europe may be a solution
ACTIVITIES
1.
Write the heading ‘Strategies to Reduce Crime - Alcohol’
2.
Explain, in detail, why some people think the age to buy alcohol
should be raised to 21. Remember to use PEET (this is because…)
3.
CLASS DEBATE: should alcohol only be sold to people age 21+?