ALCOHOL LAWSToday you will learn

Current laws/recent changes to the lawIssues Proposed changes to the laws

PAIRS:List all the current alcohol laws you can think of.

CURRENT LAWS

PROPOSED CHANGES

Set a minimum price per unit of alcoholBan discount deals on drinks in pubs/clubs

e.g. Buy one get one freeRestrict the display of alcohol in shopsSmaller measures in pubsReduce the drink drive limits

BUT….

The main proposals we will focus on are

To increase the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 21.

To introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

To ban discount deals in pubs and clubs.

Where do you stand on these issues?

To increase the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 21.

To introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

To ban discount deals in pubs and clubs.

TASK:

Join up with a partner…Together, come up with as many points for…

- Advantages of increasing the age to 21- Disadvantages of increasing the age to 21

FACTS: 40% of 15 year olds drink on a weekly basis.

Selling alcohol to under-18s led to a 40% rise in

licensing offences in 2007.

- Approx. 25% of 16-24 year olds

drink more than the recommended

safe limit.

- Liver disease in 20-30 year olds has

increased with more deaths.

WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION…

Find a new partner…Together, compare your lists of

advantages and disadvantages- Borrow any points from each other- See if you can come up with any more

points

Where do you stand on this issue now?

TRIAL RUN OF THIS PROPOSED LAW

Off licences in Cupar, Fife signed up to a deal with

the police where sales of alcohol to under-21s were

banned at the weekend.

GOOD POINTS:

58% drop in calls to police about young people causing trouble.

Anti-social behaviour decreased.

BAD POINTS:

Problem was with under 18s, not 18-21 year olds, who could not buy alcohol even though they were over the legal age limit.

Some felt it ‘demonised’ young people.

TO INTRODUCE A MINIMUM PRICE FOR ALCOHOL

Read the arguments for and against a minimum price for alcohol.

Write a paragraph explaining whether you think it should be introduced or not.

Give reasons to support your decision.

Discount deals have already been banned in supermarkets. The act, introduced in October 2011, placed restrictions on how alcohol could be displayed and promoted.

Sales of alcohol have dropped in Scottish supermarkets since the ban, many argue this will improve the health of the Scottish public.

If this ban was introduced in pubs and clubs this may also decrease sales and reduce drunk and disorderly behaviour.

To ban discount deals in pubs and clubs.

WHY DOES THIS ALL MATTER?

MANY CRIMES RELATED TO ALCOHOL

Drink-driving: estimated 5% of accidents and 15% of deaths related to alcohol (2010)

Drunk and Disorderly: 36,000 notices of drunk and disorderly (2011)

Other Offences: 938,000 offenders estimated to be under the influence when they committed a crime. The National Probation Service advises that ‘alcohol is a factor related to a lot of crimes including many assaults, murder and rape cases (between 50 and 80%)’ 2009.