Girls worse than boys for drunken loutishness

Binge drinking is a problem in the UK

The number of ladettes fined for being drunk has risen by nearly a third in Greater Manchester in just three years — whereas young men are curbing their drinking.

According to Government figures, 12 girls aged 16-17 were fined for being drunk and disorderly in 2007 compared with nine in 2005 — a 33% increase.

Fines imposed on boys of the same age during the same perod fell by 33%, from 36 to 24.

The number of women aged 18-20 fined for the same offence rose by 14%, from 14 to 16, while the figures for men of the same age dropped by 37%, from 108 in 2005 to 68 in 2007.

The number of men and women over the age of 21 fined for being drunk and disorderly fell by a third, from 330 to 231 (men), and 76 to 44 (women).

Nationally, fines for women of all ages increased by 30%, from 6,098 in 2005 to 7,930 in 2007, while the number of men being fined during the same period was up 20%, from 34,078 to 41,132. The Government has taken a number of measures to clamp down on binge-drinking, including targeting pubs and shops suspected of selling alcohol to under-18s and using exclusion orders for alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Tomorrow, Children’s Secretary Ed Balls will announce a fresh drive to reduce binge-drinking among young people.

But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Paul Holmes, who obtained the figures, said they proved Government had failed to tackle binge-drinking.

He said: “These figures are yet more evidence the existence of a binge-drinking ladette culture, particularly among teenage girls.

“As the number of drunken women on our streets has increased, so has the number of violent assaults being carried out by women.

“The main problem is enforcing the rules. These figures show that ministers are incapable of tough action when it comes to selling alcohol to children.

“We have to get tough on those who sell booze to children and better educate our children about the dangers of alcohol.”

The Home Office said the Government was committed to tackling all forms of under-age drinking, binge-drinking and excessive abuse among both sexes.

A spokesman said: “Drinking alcohol is never an excuse for causing harm and distress to others and so we will continue to ensure that the police and courts have all the tools and powers they need to bring the irresponsible minority, men and women alike, swiftly to justice.

“Overall, alcohol-related violence has fallen by around a third since 1995 but we are not complacent.

“There will be no let up in the Government’s efforts to create a healthier drinking culture.”