Agenda item - Reducing Alcohol Related Harm for Children & Young People - Scrutiny Review Panel Report

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance together with the report of the Children & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee Scrutiny Review Panel, (copies attached).

14.1         Councillor A Norman introduced the report and noted that the scrutiny review had come from the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health.  She wished to thank the other Members of the Review Panel and the officers involved in producing the report.  She noted that 80% of alcohol consumed by young people was not purchased illegally and whilst initiatives such as ‘Challenge 25 or 21’ by the supermarkets were welcomed, there was a need to address the issue and encourage other outlets to follow suit with the initiatives.

14.2         Councillor Duncan stated that he wished to commend the report to the council and noted that the recommendations had full cross-party support.  He hoped that they would be taken forward and implemented so that the problems caused by young people having access to alcohol could begin to be addressed.

14.3         Councillors Brown, McCaffery, Cobb, Fallon-Khan and Lepper expressed their support for the report and noted that a number of the problems identified were being tackled by and with partner organisations.  There was concern over the level of ‘discounting’ offered by various outlets and the potential harm caused to unborn babies that was not appreciated by young people.

14.4         The Mayor noted that the report’s recommendation had been moved and asked if council agreed.

14.5         RESOLVED:  That the report of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Reducing Alcohol Related harm for Children & Young People be noted.