It comes as shock figures revealed that children as young as 14 (three years under the legal age for driving on public roads) are being caught drink-driving in the county.
Children’s charities say figures showing that in 2008, 2009, and 2011, drivers aged 14 were caught drink-driving are “terrifying”.
Hampshire is one of the drink-driving hotspots for under-18s in the country, with 276 offenders caught between 2008 and 2013 (74 were under the age of 16). The youngest offender in the country was just 11.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Sergeant Rob Heard said: “Interestingly the figures for 2012 and 2013 are significantly reduced by more than two thirds compared to the figure from 2008. This ongoing decline seems to demonstrate that our educational messages to young drivers are being heard clearly.
Jackie Ballard, chief executive at Alcohol Concern, said: “The fact young people have been illegally driving while under the influence of alcohol is terrifying. The Government has to get a grip on the fact that young people are bombarded with alcohol advertising which tells them drinking is a normal and positive thing to do and it is often available at pocket money prices. They can start to change this culture by introducing a minimum unit price and restricting alcohol advertising.”
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