Call for alcopop ban in Torbay
MAYOR Nick Bye is being asked to ban alcopops in a bid to bring down Torbay's alcohol-related hospital admissions for youngsters, which are among the highest in England.
A report which goes before today's cabinet meeting recommends Mr Bye writes to the Secretary of State for health to support a British Medical Association report to curb underage drinking.
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The report outlines the damaging effect of drink on youngsters.
It recommends a ban on alcohol advertising, minimum prices for alcohol, a link of tax to alcohol strength and ways to prohibit products that appeal to young people more than adults.
The recommend-ations come after it was revealed last year that the Bay comes 302nd out of the 354 local authorities in England for the number of under-18s admitted to hospital for alcohol specific problems.
The figure does not include drunk youngsters admitted to the A&E department.
The report which goes to today's meeting raises concerns about alcohol abuse and looks at new ways to tackle the issues, including a drive to stop adults buying booze for young drinkers.
Young people say they drink out of boredom and because there are no other ways for them to have fun with their peers.
In the South West, only Plymouth has a worse rate.
The Young People Alcohol Misuse report shows as many as 95 per cent of young people in Torbay have drunk alcohol.
The report says eight per cent of youngsters have got drunk three or more times in the last four weeks, compared to six per cent nationally.
The figures mean as many as 1,248 youngsters drinking on a monthly basis, with 624 under-18s getting drunk more than three times a month.
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by James, Torbay
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 5:39PM
“With those 'figures' used in the article, what percentage were drinking 'alcopops'. I'm pretty sure that youngsters now are drinking heavier strength alcohol. For instance; If they were to buy a 4 pack of alcopops for a fiver, they would rather buy a cheap bottle of vodka for a few quid more which can be shared around and get a larger amount of them drunk. Kids aren't stupid when it comes to spending money and want to get the best for their money's worth.”
by Willie, Devon
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 10:06PM
“Billy you have every chance that remark being removed....this paper does not like criticism....I have 5 similar remarks removed on this subject tonight.”
by Willie, Devon
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 9:58PM
“Where are these figures obtained from, it must be guesswork, as no records of under 18's are allowed to kept.
Who are providing the figures it does not say, who are the cabinet, and what has Mr Bye to do with this? Nothing is clear in this report.”
by billy the kid, somewhere
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 9:52PM
“Please can you employ some journalists with a basic grasp of the english language. The mayor is not 'being asked to ban alcopops', as he does not have the power to do so. Your report goes on to state that he is being asked to draw issues to the attention of the secretary of state, but that doesn't sound quite so impressive now does it?”
by Colin, Torbay
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 7:05PM
“Coming at the problem from the wrong end as usual.
Banning alcopops to stop alcohol abuse is like banning cars to curb drink driving.
It's not the alcopops that are the problem, it's the users.”