ID CARDS FOR CHILDREN TO CURB UNDER-AGE DRINKING

CHILDREN as young as 12 are to be issued with national identity cards
under a government-backed scheme to curb under-aged drinking, gambling
and smoking.

Up to 7m cards will be issued in the biggest initiative of its kind in
Britain. Supermarkets, newsagents, cinemas and pubs will be expected
to check the card before selling anything with an age
restriction.

The Home Office and the Department of Health are to support the scheme
- - named CitizenCard - after rejecting the idea of a government-issued
card.

Ministers are concerned at the growing sales to underage teenagers,
and children as young as eight, of tobacco and alcohol products as
well as violent films, fireworks, solvents and knives.

Tessa Jowell, the health minister, and George Howarth, the Home Office
minister, have summoned industry chiefs to a meeting tomorrow to press
them into supporting the use of the card or face tougher penalties for
selling restricted products to minors.

A private letter from Jowell to chief executives in the drinks and
tobacco industries, as well as Camelot, the national lottery operator,
and retail and trade associations, ruled out a government-issued
national identity card because it would "involve highly contentious
primary legislation". In the letter, Jowell proposes that "a quicker
and publicly more acceptable solution could now be reached on a
voluntary basis by the combined efforts of the industries concerned".

The new scheme already has support from more than 100,000 retailers
and up to UKP5m backing from tobacco manufacturers, Ladbrokes,
Britain's biggest betting shop chain, and Somerfield and Kwiksave
supermarkets. Most large newsagents and convenience shops have also
pledged support.

Howarth said: "As a government we are giving positive support to
industry-backed proof-of-age cards to help retailers and the public."

The backers will advertise the cards with the slogan "No ID, no sale".
They plan to enlist the help of schools by offering a payment for each
card issued.

The scheme will be administered by a non-profit-making company,
CitizenCard Ltd. It will charge UKP5 for each card, but claims that
the net cost will be less because the card entitles the holder to
discounts on many goods and services.

* Britain's most senior police officers are considering plans to
introduce integrity tests to every police force in Britain to entrap
corrupt and racist officers across all ranks.

John Evans, vice-president of the Association of Chief Police Officers
who is chairing the taskforce, said chief constables would not be immune.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry