Louiza Zannetou, the Law Commissioner, has proposed stricter penalties for those providing alcohol to minors in Cyprus, including longer prison terms and higher fines. She also calls for improved law enforcement transparency, preventive education campaigns targeting businesses and parents, and a collaborative effort between government, law enforcement, and community organizations to combat underage drinking.
What are the proposed changes to combat underage drinking in Cyprus?
Louiza Zannetou, the Law Commissioner, has proposed stricter penalties for those providing alcohol to minors, including longer prison terms and higher fines. Additionally, she advocates for enhanced law enforcement transparency, preventive education campaigns targeting businesses and parents, and a collaborative effort between government, law enforcement, and community organizations.
Call for Enhanced Enforcement Measures
Law Commissioner Louiza Zannetou has emphasized the need for increased penalties for those supplying alcohol to minors. Speaking at a round table in Nicosia, organized by the Cypriot addictions authority, Zannetou highlighted the current legal consequences—a prison term of up to six months or a €3,000 fine—as insufficient deterrents. Her statements were made with the backdrop of a concerning report about Cypriot children’s alcohol consumption compared to their European peers.
Furthermore, Zannetou urged the police to improve transparency by publishing violation statistics and lists of offenders on the official police website. This move is seen as a way to hold establishments accountable and as a preventive measure against the illegal sale of alcohol to young people.
Escalating Access and Consumption Among Youth
It’s alarming that 87% of Cypriot minors find it easy to obtain alcohol, surpassing the European average of 78%. The Espad survey figures are particularly troubling as they suggest that the barrier to access is worryingly low. Although the same report indicated that Cypriot children tend to drink less quantity and less frequently—only 11% reported being drunk in the past month—it’s a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of underage drinking.
In light of these statistics, Zannetou’s call to action extends beyond punitive measures. She insists on preventive strategies, such as targeted information campaigns directed at businesses and parents, to raise awareness and enforce existing legislation.
Advocating for Preventive Education and Awareness
The commissioner’s approach is multifaceted; it includes punitive, preventive, and educational measures. The goal is to reduce the ease with which minors can access alcohol and the frequency of its consumption. Information campaigns play a critical role in this effort, educating not only potential violators like businesses but also parents and guardians who bear the responsibility for minors’ upbringing and can influence their behavior.
These campaigns can be most effective when combined with rigorous enforcement of the law. By creating an environment where the risks of selling to minors are high and the awareness of those risks is widespread, law enforcement and educational authorities can work together to limit minors’ access to alcohol.
Future Directions and Law Enforcement
The report released before Zannetou’s comments provides a clear direction for the actions needed. As the Cypriot community grapples with these findings, the law commissioner’s statements are a call to arms for a society determined to protect its youth. The combination of stricter penalties, increased law enforcement, and preventive campaigns might be the key to reversing the troubling trends revealed by the Espad survey.
While Zannetou did not specify the exact measures to be taken, it’s clear that a collaborative effort between the government, law enforcement, and community organizations is required. It remains to be seen how these recommendations will be implemented and what impact they will have on underage drinking statistics in Cyprus.
What are the proposed changes to combat underage drinking in Cyprus?
Louiza Zannetou, the Law Commissioner, has proposed stricter penalties for those providing alcohol to minors, including longer prison terms and higher fines. Additionally, she advocates for enhanced law enforcement transparency, preventive education campaigns targeting businesses and parents, and a collaborative effort between government, law enforcement, and community organizations.
Why does Law Commissioner Louiza Zannetou call for enhanced enforcement measures?
Law Commissioner Louiza Zannetou calls for enhanced enforcement measures because she believes that the current penalties for providing alcohol to minors in Cyprus are insufficient deterrents. She emphasizes the need for increased penalties to effectively combat underage drinking and advocates for law enforcement transparency, including publishing violation statistics and lists of offenders, as a way to hold establishments accountable and prevent the illegal sale of alcohol to young people.
What are the alarming statistics regarding underage drinking in Cyprus?
According to the Espad survey, 87% of Cypriot minors find it easy to obtain alcohol, surpassing the European average of 78%. While Cypriot children tend to drink less quantity and less frequently compared to their European peers, the high ease of access to alcohol is concerning. It highlights the need for preventive measures to reduce the accessibility of alcohol for minors.
What other strategies does the Law Commissioner propose to combat underage drinking in Cyprus?
In addition to stricter penalties and enhanced law enforcement transparency, the Law Commissioner proposes preventive education and awareness campaigns. These campaigns aim to raise awareness among businesses, parents, and guardians about the existing legislation and the risks associated with selling alcohol to minors. The commissioner believes that a combination of punitive, preventive, and educational measures can effectively limit minors’ access to alcohol and reduce its consumption.
