Top doctor rejects call to raise drinking age

Aug 16 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Binge drinking is a major health concern (200)

THE president of the Royal College of Physicians last night disagreed with calls by the chief constables of Cheshire and Merseyside to raise the legal alcohol age to 21.

Professor Ian Gilmore, consultant gastro-enterologist at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, joined politicians, public health experts and the drinks industry to dismiss the idea.

He said raising the legal alcohol age would only drive youth drinking underground and create more social problems, although he agreed underage drinking was a major concern. Cheshire’s chief constable Peter Fahy spoke out after the murder of father-of-three Garry Newlove who confronted a gang outside his Warrington home at the weekend.

Locals have complained of youths drinking on the streets around the area of his home on Station Road, prompting Mr Fahy to also call for an overall ban on drinking alcohol in public places.

It comes after Merseyside chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe called for under-21s to be barred from buying alcohol in supermarkets and off-licences in June. Last night, Prof Gilmore said he understood and was “supportive” of concerns raised by the two police chiefs.

He added: “Bringing the legal limit from 18 to 21 is a no-goer. When we send people off to Afghanistan to fight – to try to extend the legal age is not feasible.”

Prof Mark Bellis, director of the Centre for Public Health, North West Public Health Observatory at Liverpool John Moores University, echoed Prof Gilmore’s concerns.

He warned that raising the drinking age to 21 could drive young people abroad for boozy weekends, reinforcing bingeing behaviour.

A FOURTH teenager was charged yesterday with the murder of Mr Newlove, 47.

Adam William Swellings, 18, of Meredith Street, Crewe, appeared at Runcorn Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was remanded in custody.

Three youths, two aged 15 and a third 16, appeared at Runcorn Youth Court on Tuesday and denied the charges.

davidbartlett