'Many children' being sold drink

There are health fears over young people's binge drinking

Almost a quarter of pubs, bars and off-licences in England and Wales are selling alcohol to children, according to a survey.

The Liberal Democrats found 23% of licensed premises looked at were supplying drink to under-18s.

The findings are based on the results of local authority tests, where under-age people are sent into bars and shops to make purchases.

The Lib Dems gained figures from 69 of the 168 councils they approached.

'Shocking'

Out of 11,452 tests carried out between November 2004 and November 2005, 2,588 had resulted in purchases by minors.

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Andrew Stunell said: "It is shocking that under-age children can so easily buy alcohol.

"As well as being illegal, it is grossly irresponsible for pubs and shops to sell alcohol to under-age young people.

"Teenagers drinking illegally bought alcohol often take part in anti-social behaviour, causing misery for many people in their community."

North Somerset council reported the highest rate of sales from test purchases, with 53%.

This was followed by Southwark on 47%, Chelsea on 45%, Peterborough on 43% and Herefordshire on 41%.

Bexley had the lowest rate of 6%, with North Yorkshire and Middlesbrough both on 8%.

NHS figures show there were 7,500 hospital admissions in England among this age group for conditions like alcohol poisoning in 2004-5. This was a rise of 20% from five years earlier.