WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1979
PARENTAL CONTROL
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ANSWER TO UNDER-AGE DRINKING *****
THE ANSWER TO UNDER-AGE DRINKING LIES IN INCREASED PARENTAL CONTROL AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ENACTMENT OF MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION OR INCREASED POLICE EFFORTS, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES IN TODAY'S (WEDNESDAY) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON, LYDIA DUNN ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT ADEQUENT MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WERE NOT SERVED IN RESTAURANTS, NIGHT- CLUBS AND DISCOTHQUES TO PATRONS WHO WERE UNDER 18, MR. DAVIES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ALTOGETHER SATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION.
HE SAID THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (LIQUOR) REGULATIONS MADE IT AN OFFENCE FOR A LICENSEE TO PERMIT ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18 TO DRINK INTOXICATING LIQUOR ON ANY LICENSED PREMISES.
HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED, THE COURTS HAD RULED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO PROVE THAT THE LICENSEE SOLD LIQUOR TO A PERSON KNOWING THE PERSON TO BE UNDER-AGE. THIS HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SECURE CONVICTIONS FOR THE OFFENCE.
MR. DAVIES SAID THE LAW WAS CURRENTLY BEING RE-EXAMINED AS PART OF AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING PROVISIONS.
+UNDER-AGE DRINKING IS ONE OF THE ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED, +
HE SAID.
ACCORDING TO HIM, THE POLICE ASSESSMENT WAS THAT UNDER-AGE DRINKING WAS NOT A SERIOUS OR WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
+IT IS ESSENTIALLY A SOCIAL ISSUE AND THE ANSWER WOULD SEEM TO LIE IN INCREASED PARENTAL CONTROL AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ENACTMENT OF MORE STRINGENT LEGISLATION OR INCREASED POLICE EFFORTS,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.
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