‘Limit festival goers to two beers a time to stop teen drinking’

Two beers at a time? Photo: Depositphotos.com

Alcohol abuse prevention lobby Stap wants the organisers of festivals and other outdoor events to limit party-goers to two drinks only at the bar.

Staps says this will help prevent the under-18s drinking too much. ‘If everyone orders their own beer, [the law] will be easier to maintain, Stap director Wim van Dalen told the Volkskrant. The under-18s in the Netherlands are banned from buying alcohol and can face a fine if caught with beer or wine in public.

‘Lots of youngsters under the age of 18 drink too much,’ he said. ‘They don’t buy it themselves, their friends who are over 18 do. This happens a lot, particularly at events like the TT in Assen and the Nijmegen four-day marches. This summer dozens of under-18s have been hospitalised with alcohol poisoning and some end up in coma.’

A spokesman for concert organiser Mojo told broadcaster NOS the suggestion is quite impractical.

The under 18s wear a special bracelet and are not allowed to buy alcohol, he said. But banning everyone from ordering more than two beers would be a complete over-reaction.

In 2016, 791 teenagers were hospitalised with alcohol poisoning, a drop of 15% on 2015.

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