FACTS
- How old do you have to be to buy alcohol?
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Except for 16 or 17 year olds having a meal in a pub, it's against the law for anyone under 18 to buy or be sold alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket or other outlet, or for anyone to buy alcohol in a pub for someone under the age of 18. The police have powers to confiscate alcohol from anyone under the age of 18 caught in possession or drinking alcohol in a public place.
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- Anti-social behaviour can include:
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Vandalism, graffiti and creating noise. If you cause harassment, alarm or distress to others you risk being made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order. Although this is a civil order, it is a firm measure to stop the behaviour that led to the order being made. This could involve being banned from places you like to go to. If you fail to keep to the conditions of the order, you will have committed a criminal offence and you could go to prison for up to five years. To enforce the order your details could be given to the local community for their protection so they can tell the police or local authority if the terms of the order are broken.
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- How old do you have to be to drink alcohol on the street?
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Even though there is no law that has an age limit, in South Tyneside there are specific areas where alcohol can not be consumed. Anyone under 18 in possession of alcohol will have it confiscated by the police. If you drink, what starts off as a laugh could end up with a fine or a night in the police cell – or even a criminal charge? You can get an £80 fixed penalty for being drunk on the streets and drinking in a public place that has been designated a no alcohol area.
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- Why are young people more likely to commit a crime when they have been drinking?
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Alcohol affects your judgement and decisions and can make you do things that you would not normally dream of doing, such as committing a crime. The last thing you want after a good night out is to finish up in trouble with the police. Drinking large amounts can increase the risks you may take, especially if you drink large amounts over a short period of time.
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- What age group are more likely to take part in anti-social behaviour?
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14-16 year olds. Due to the effects of alcohol on this age group, what may seem like a laugh to you could be viewed as anti-social behaviour to others. The police have powers to disperse groups of young people if they believe they are behaving anti-socially in specific locations. A designated area for dispersal can range in size and can even cover a whole local authority area, as long as there is evidence of anti-social behaviour. The local authority must agree and the decision must be published in a local newspaper or by notices in the local area. The most common anti-social behaviour is public disturbance (loud noise) and neighbourhood complaints.
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- When driving, what is the current legal alcohol limit in 100ml of blood?
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You may not be old enough to drive, however it is important that you don’t get into a car with someone who has been drinking. The current legal alcohol limit is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. This is currently under review to reduce the limit to 50mg in line with Europe.
Any alcohol, even a small drink, may impair peoples ability to drive. The only safe option is to NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE or get in a car with someone who has.
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- How much can adults be fined if they are caught buying alcohol for someone under the age of 18?
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If an adult buys alcohol for a young person there is a fixed £80 penalty or up to £5000 at court. If you ask a stranger to buy alcohol for you, you are not only asking them to break the law, you could also be putting yourself at risk approaching someone you don’t know, who may know you could be vulnerable later, putting yourself in real DANGER.
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- The best way to avoid trouble is:
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If you’re out and there’s trouble, stay well clear of it, you would get into trouble with the police, finish up seriously injured or worse. The best way to avoid trouble is to know your limits, don’t drink so that you no longer know what you're doing, don’t think you're invincible and can do whatever you want. Be aware that when you're drunk you may act much more aggressively than you would have ever thought. This doesn’t only effect you but it also effects others around you. Try to talk your way out of potentially violent situations if they arise and avoid doing or saying anything aggressive.
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- How many reports relating to youth disorder have been received in 2008/09 up to the end of February in South Tyneside ?
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Of these 3,929 reports of youth disorder 580 of these were incidents relating to drinking alcohol. Youth disorder does not only have an affect on you as a young person but it also affects the friends you may be out with, the people in the local area, the emergency services who might be called out to deal with a situation you get involved in and your family.
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- Is it illegal to give alcohol to anyone under the age of 5?
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Yes. It is illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under five except under medical supervision in an emergency.
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- What does the law say about under 18’s drinking on the street?
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The law states that police officers can seize sealed and open containers which they believe contain any alcohol. You are therefore not allowed to drink alcohol in the street even if you are with someone over the age of 18.
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