Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to prevent the development of an underage binge-drinking culture.

Following on from the Alcohol Strategy published in March 2012, the Government has taken measures to address underage binge drinking including support to parents and young people about the dangers of alcohol.

We increased the fine for the sale of alcohol to children to an unlimited amount, and extended the punitive period of closure that can be imposed on a premises which has persistently sold alcohol to children from 48 to 336 hours (two weeks).

The Government has also helped schools to draw on expert advice and develop evidence-based practice. This includes funding the Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS), run by Mentor UK, to help deliver effective alcohol and drug education in the classroom.

Additionally, ‘Rise Above’ was recently launched by Public Health England (PHE). This is an online resource and social movement for young people, designed to build their resilience and empower them to make positive choices for their health.

Official statistics from surveys of school pupils aged 11-15 have shown a reduction in the proportion who have drunk alcohol in the last week, from 25% in 2003 to 9% in 2013. In addition, the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey shows that ‘binge drinking’ (exceeding more than double the recommended limits in one session) has fallen in the 16-24 age group, from 29% in 2005 to 18% in 2013.