Home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst has called for a ban on the sale of alcohol to those under 18 and an end to the sale of alcohol in supermarkets. The minister was speaking last night at the launch of a pilot project to reduce teenage drunkenness.

Ter Horst said she would discuss the possibility of introducing new measures to reduce drinking by young teenagers with health minister Ab Klink on Wednesday.
The pilot project in 12 local authority areas in the province of Overijssel gives the police more powers to deal with teenage drinking in cafés and on the streets as well as at home. This could involve breathalyser tests on teenagers who cause a nuisance.
The current legal age for buying wine and beer is 16 and 18 for spirits.

More to follow