Challenge 21 scheme 'has direct impact'

The pub sector's scheme to tackle under-age drinking is having an impact, a YouGov poll has found.

Some 91% of 18-24 year olds questioned said that they know about the Challenge 21 scheme, which encourages bar staff to ask for ID if a customer looks under 21.

The poll, conducted for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), also found that nearly a third (32%) of young adults said they are asked for ID in pubs more now than they were a year ago.

One in five said that they now found it harder to get served alcohol without ID than they did a year ago. Some 13% said that they have been refused entry to a pub and 12% refused service because they didn't have ID on them.

The BBPA says that the poll supports separate figures it has, showing that more than a million people a month are being refused service because they can not produce ID or are underage.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have said that they would introduce a 'one strike and you're out' penalty for those caught selling alcohol to children.

As part of their proposals for tackling youth crime, the party said that any premises caught selling alcohol to under-age drinkers would have its licence reviewed. The license would be revoked and the business fined where it had failed to demonstrate "due diligence" in the sale of alcohol.

The Association of Convenience Stores branded the proposals a "step too far".

James Lowman, ACS chief executive, said: "One strike and you're out is a tough sound bite, but is it really sensible to take away a businesses' livelihood if they make one mistake?"