FARNHAM MP Jeremy Hunt has voiced his concerns about new figures which show a dramatic increase in under-age drinking. Mr Hunt said the report, published by 'Crime Concern', reveals not only a growing number of under-age drinkers being admitted to hospital, but also laws, which prohibit under-age drinking, are not being enforced properly. Last week The Herald reported on a group of more than 50 young people drinking alcohol and causing disturbances in various parts of the the town, many of whom were under-age. Extra police offices were called in to deal with the problem and some of the offenders have now been issued with an anti-social behaviour step letter. Mr Hunt is concerned that incidents like this should not contnue to rise in Farnham. The report also found that "drinking to get drunk is starting younger with serious consequences to health and crime". According to the report almost four in 10 young people now start drinking at the age of 13, and half of their parents are turning a blind eye. Further figures – unearthed by the Conservatives in Parliament – reveal that under-age children who break the law by buying alcohol illegally are not being held to account. Fewer than a hundred individuals a year are punished for trying to buy alcohol illegally. According to Mr Hunt's office, in Surrey, over the 2004-2006 period, only two under-age offenders were cautioned for illegally purchasing alcohol and none were proceeded against in court. Also, according to the Conservative MP, a growing number of children are now being hospitalised after being admitted to A&E due to alcohol misuse, with 596 incidents across the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority last year. Across the country as a whole, there has been an increase of 40 per cent since 2000. Mr Hunt said: "Under-age drinking harms young people and fuels youth crime and anti-social behaviour. The Government talks endlessly about cracking down on alcohol-related violence, but these new figures expose real complacency. "There are already laws and sanctions in place. It's time to give the police the resources to enforce them before this problem gets out of hand locally." The law says the legal age for purchasing alcohol is 18, however, young people aged 16 and 17 can have wine, beer or cider with their meal in certain parts of a licensed premises as long as an adult is present and orders the drink.
