The Labour party (PvdA) wants to make the possession of alcohol in public places by under-16s punishable by law. The idea is contained in an action plan published on Monday afternoon to deal with the problem of under-age drinking.

Labour is concerned about the decreasing age of young drinkers and their increasing intake of alcohol. The party says alcohol possession should be made punishable for the under-16s and suppliers of alcohol to under-16s should lose their licence if they are caught three times.
The central agency for the grocery trade (CBL) is enthusiastic about the plan. ‘It offers support to supermarkets in adhering to the age limit,’ a spokesman told the Telegraaf on Monday.
Meanwhile the association for alcohol prevention (STAP) told the Telegraaf that camp sites are also introducing stricter controls on alcohol use by youngsters in a bid to clean up their image.
And in Amsterdam on Sunday evening 250 drunken students in evening dress terrorised passengers on a ferry. According to the Telegraaf they head-butted other passengers and threw a bicycle overboard. They were met by police at the landing stage.