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Press Releases
Alcohol survey for 91Èȱ¬ Newsnight
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A slim majority of people think that the legal drinking age should be raised from 18 to 21 years, suggests an opinion poll conducted for 91Èȱ¬ Newsnight.
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The results of the ORB survey will be broadcast on Thursday (13 December) on 91Èȱ¬ Two at 10.30pm. They form part of a Newsnight series looking at the impact of alcohol on Britain as the nation prepares for the run up to Christmas.
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Plans include a broadcast of an update of Paul Watson's award-winning documentary Rain In My Heart, a look at how the drink industry operates and a debate with leading figures from the drinks industry, the Government, and the medical profession on the nature of Britain's drink problem.
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The results of the poll suggest that 51% agree or strongly agree with raising the legal drinking age as opposed to 47% who disagree.
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The poll suggests that it is women more than men who are in favour of the change – 57% would like the age raised as opposed to 42% who disagree.
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However a majority of men are opposed to such a change with 53% against raising the age and 46% in favour.
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A majority of those aged 18 to 24 are also opposed to a change in the law – 61% against and 39% in favour.
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The poll suggests a majority of people think there should not be any alcohol adverts on the TV. When asked to agree or disagree with the statement "adverts for alcohol should be banned from television", 56% agreed or strongly agreed with this statement with 43% disagreeing.
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Only just over a quarter of people (26%) said "there is nothing wrong with this" when asked to give their reaction to the statement that in some supermarkets cans of beer are being sold for 22p.
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The largest group (30%) felt that the supermarkets should act more responsibly and not do this but it was not for the Government to prevent them.
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Nearly a quarter of people (23%) thought the drink manufacturers should prevent beer being sold so cheaply.
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Less than one-fifth thought it was something the Government should address. Seventeen per cent reacted to cans of beer being sold for 22p by saying the Government should introduce minimum price restrictions to prevent them.
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The people surveyed felt that alcohol causes the most widespread damage to families in Britain today.
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Forty-four per cent blamed alcohol abuse, with 42% blaming hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Only a few thought that soft drugs such as cannabis (7%) or nicotine abuse (3%) caused the most widespread damage to families.
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Finally, when asked which of the following holds most responsibility for the problems of alcoholism and alcohol-related crime in this country a clear majority (53%) felt that individuals themselves were most to blame.
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Thirty-one per cent felt that poor parenting was to blame. Fewer than one in 10 felt that the drinks industry (8%) and the Government (7%) were responsible.
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- Results from a telephone survey conducted among 1,015 adults (aged 18+) in Great Britain.
- Interviews were conducted between 7 and 9 December 2007.
- All figures shown are percentages and, unless stated otherwise, based on the total sample of 1,015 people interviewed.
- Data are weighted according to the age, gender and socio-economic profile of GB.
- "Don't know" and "Refused" responses were given spontaneously and not prompted.
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Poll questions:
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1. How strongly do you agree or disagree with each of the following:
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| The legal drinking age should be raised from 18 to 21 years |
| NET: Agree |
51 |
| Strongly agree |
36 |
| Agree |
15 |
| Disagree |
27 |
| Strongly disagree |
20 |
| NET: Disagree |
47 |
| Don't know/Refused |
1 |
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| Adverts for alcohol should be banned from television |
| NET: Agree |
56 |
| Strongly agree |
36 |
| Agree |
20 |
| Disagree |
30 |
| Strongly disagree |
13 |
| NET: Disagree |
43 |
| Don't know/Refused |
1 |
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2. It's been reported that in some supermarkets cans of beer are being sold for 22p. Which of the following best describes your reaction to this?
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| The supermarkets should act more responsibly and not do this but it is not for the government to prevent them |
30 |
| There is nothing wrong with this |
26 |
| The drink manufacturers should prevent beer being sold so cheaply |
23 |
| The government should introduce minimum price restrictions to prevent them |
17 |
| None of these |
2 |
| Don't know |
2 |
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3. Which of the following do you think causes the most widespread damage to families in Britain today?
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| Alcohol abuse |
44 |
| Hard drugs such as cocaine/heroine |
42 |
| Soft drugs such as cannabis |
7 |
| Nicotine abuse |
3 |
| None of these |
1 |
| Refused/Don't know |
4 |
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4. Which of the following do you think holds most responsibility for the problems of alcoholism and alcohol related crime in this country?
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| Individuals themselves – we all make out own choices in life |
53 |
| Poor parenting |
31 |
| The drinks industry – retailers and producers |
8 |
| The government |
7 |
| None of these |
1 |
| Don't know |
1 |
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