Alert Digest

Yellow card in the sky

British Airways are considering introducing a "yellow cards" system for disruptive passengers as the increasing number of drunken incidents on aircraft is causing concern that one might lead to tragedy.

Alcohol Concern has called for an end to the distribution of free alcohol after reports confirmed that assaults on staff and damage to cabins had increased fourfold since 1994. It has also been suggested that a limit be placed on the amount of alcohol which can be purchased.

A spokesman for BA said that a move to end free drinks or limit purchases would "spoil the enjoyment of millions because of the actions of a tiny minority." The UK Flight Safety Committee said it hoped the authorities were not waiting for a crash before taking action.

MPs attack smugglers

Members of Parliament are demanding that people caught smuggling drink and cigarettes across the Channel should lose their driving and haulier's licences. They are also asking Customs and Excise to act on removing the liquor licences from places selling illegally imported drink and to be more vigorous in bringing prosecutions against the smugglers themselves. As we go to press Dawn Primarolo has announced that the Government is to give an extra £35 million to Customs and Excise to tackle alcohol and tobacco fraud which is losing the Treasurery over £800 million each year.

Alcoholic livers

28 patients out of 59 who had alcoholic liver disease took up the glass again after receiving transplants. This was shown in a survey carried out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Transplant surgeons are pointing to this evidence to support their policy of urging alcoholics waiting for liver transplants to sign an agreement that they will seek help to overcome their addiction. So far 28 patients have made the promise and accepted the counselling which is on offer.

A spokesman for the hospital said, "We want them to understand that having a new liver won't cure them if the reason for having the transplant is alcoholism. But we don't stop people from having a new liver if they do have alcoholism."

£15 to oblivion

A Sheffield pub offered a "drink all you can" session for £15 which led to the death of a 25 year old man. Scott Woolhouse was killed after falling downstairs. Judge Patrick Robertshaw said that the alcohol he had drunk at Scandals pub contributed to his death. The judge added that licensees should behave responsibly in selling drink to the public. "The evidence indicates a very high degree of irresponsibility on the part of those responsible, the pub. Those responsible for the premises on this particular night were quite clearly not in the business of providing leisure entertainment. They were making a clear pitch aimed at young people with one thing and one thing only in mind and that was to become very seriously drunk indeed. "

For his £15 Mr Woolhouse had drunk a pint of lager, 4 bottles of Budweiser, 2 alcopops, and approximately 18 measures of spirits.

Roadside justice

It is time for the police to have the power to charge suspected drink-drivers at the roadside, said Ken Williams, Chief Constable of Norfolk, addressing the annual conference of the Association of Chief Police Officers. Mr Williams believed it was necessary to move towards "evidential breath-testing, where suspected drink-drivers could be dealt with at the roadside and a positive test would result in an instant charge and bail for court the next day". He said: "Roadside evidential breath testing could speed up the way in which drink-drivers are dealt with and save some police resources."

Mr Williams, the vice-chairman of the ACPO's traffic committee, said such testing may be appropriate for "most cases". However, some might still have to be dealt with at police stations - such as when the driver opted to give a blood sample, or when there was impairment by drugs or a refusal to give a sample. In any event, a device for roadside testing which provides evidence acceptable in the courts is being developed.

Mr Williams reiterated the ACPO's call for a reduction in the blood alcohol limit to 50mgs per 100 mls. He also said that the Association also wanted a change in the law to allow police to test drivers without their being conditions such as involvement in an accident or the commission of a moving traffic offence. He said: "In other words, there are no pre-conditions for requiring a breath test. This is not a plea for random testing but a call for a clear general power for police to breath test any person reasonably suspected of being the driver or rider of a motor vehicle who is either impaired through drink or drugs." Mr Williams said this would "permit the intelligence-led targeting of individuals in the high-offending groups".

The ACPO has argued for a long time that the hard core of drink-drivers can be identified and should be actively targeted. Mr Williams wanted accurate intelligence to be gathered "on known drink-drivers and the locations they frequent...Clearer legislation combined with this accurate intelligence could have a significant effect on the ability of police to combat the drink-driver."