tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post2923163426098534935..comments2023-11-03T23:18:25.999+00:00Comments on BIGNEWS MARGATE: Too much too youngTony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-62472410550765893942008-03-10T00:01:00.000+00:002008-03-10T00:01:00.000+00:00Sorry for not coming back on this one, my feeling ...Sorry for not coming back on this one, my feeling is that closing outlets will do nothing to stop underage drinking, since in my day you just went to the next off licence or pub till you got served.<BR/><BR/>As to individual cases it seems remarkable that some of the larger traders in booze have no problems of their smaller competitors, but I suppose they have better management or lawyers or both.Tony Flaighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-29438080179565164792008-03-07T22:17:00.000+00:002008-03-07T22:17:00.000+00:00Rather more to this story than that, Tony. When w...Rather more to this story than that, Tony. When we get teams dopwn to the area to test for under age drinking, do you think they select their visits at random? Or do you think some local intelligence suggests places they should try, sending in under age testers with witnesses watching.<BR/><BR/>Lets say on one such raid a clear breach of the law was observed. Lets say this went to court and resulted in a conviction and a £2500 fine. Lets say the licencing laws allow the local licensing committee to impose a consequential penalty, such as loss of licence.<BR/><BR/>Then there is a right of appeal, to the same court that imposed the fine and found the guilt in the first place, and they return the licence to the original offender.<BR/><BR/>Wonder why we sometimes get p****d off, between the public and government demanding action? And when we take the legally allowable action, another part of the enforcement agencies backs off?<BR/><BR/>And next month Harpers appeal is due, what do you think they believe their chances are now?<BR/><BR/>Under age drinking is no longer the old image of a few staggering youths under the trees in the park. More addicts blame drink for their circumstances than the hard drugs that followed. More childrens lives are damaged by drink than drugs. It is the legal drug of alcohol that promises more damage to our society than most others - slow, insidious, and self denying, it wends its way into our lives, empties our bank accounts and undermines our moral fibre.<BR/><BR/>And thats a minor rant to what this subject deserves!chris wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17086054266384793626noreply@blogger.com