Poll: Was it the right thing to do?

[Insanum]

Hi everyone, Please help me settle a difference of opinion.

A fellow escapist user has informed me of a situation he was involved in, And we have a serious difference of opinion.

The scene:

He and several friends, Varing in age between 17-20 (presumed at this stage) were out. Now this user had 12 cans of (apparantly weak) alcohol on him, and his friends also had cans on them as well. They were drinking out in public (unknown on how much).

Now a PCSO (police community support Officer) has approached them, And confiscated the booze, as some were underage. The reason he confiscated the alcohol from of legal age is because of "intent to supply".

He now feels wronged, Because he is of age too drink alchohol legally.

Now, The way i see it: he was out with a bunch of people, Some of them underage, If you confiscate the alcohol from the underage people only, Surely the friends who were of age would just distribute the remaining alcohol between them?

So, (as im sure the user will likely name himself with his side of the story) what do you think?

Edit one, This is in the UK, legal drinking age is 18.

Edit two: User Identified himself.

I will name myself as you are presenting a case without all the facts.

He said the reason why he was taking it was because of the amount... I had bought that amount because it is a weak alcohol and I am 6 foot 4 so it takes alot to actually get me drunk. I also bought my alcohol knowing everyone else had their own.

The PCSO said the amount I had was his reason for suspicion, clearly thinking I had bought that amount in order to share... a condition that existed prior to the actual confiscation of alcohol! So unless I can see into the future and see he was going to confiscate their alcohol then his claim is invalid!

He also gave a false number when we asked him for it AND he searched a friends bag when she wasnt there!

 

[grimsprice]

First post says the legal age should be 18. So the dude was wrong in his action. If they were 17 then yes, right call. I mean taking it from everybody, not just the youngins.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Yeah, I'm goin with the cop what you said, if the cop only took from the underage ones they might of just passed it around or somethin.

Is this a topic about a topic or about a PM session?

 

[El Poncho]

Yes, he did the right think also, I thought it was illegal to drink in public(or is that only Britain?)

EDIT: So it is the UK, so he shouldn't be drinking in public, (or is that only Scotland? ha)

 

[WrongSprite]

Now, The way i see it: he was out with a bunch of people, Some of them underage, If you confiscate the alcohol from the underage people only, Surely the friends who were of age would just distribute the remaining alcohol between them?

Oh yes, definitely.

But that's not how to law works, the PSCO was in the wrong to confiscate alcohol from your friend who was drinking legally. Unless he actually saw him pass a can to the under-age guy.

 

[Radeonx]

The cop is in the right, as the older kids would simply distribute to the younger kids, if the younger ones wanted more booze.

 

[Nouw]

The cop is simply right. They could of given to the younger teens as they were drunk.

 

[Simalacrum]

I think the cop was right to take away the booz, yes.

Its better to have a few disgruntled teenagers than have a potential hazard on the streets.

 

[ethaninja]

The cop is in the right, as the older kids would simply distribute to the younger kids, if the younger ones wanted more booze.

Agreed.

 

[Insanum]

Now, The way i see it: he was out with a bunch of people, Some of them underage, If you confiscate the alcohol from the underage people only, Surely the friends who were of age would just distribute the remaining alcohol between them?

Oh yes, definitely.

But that's not how to law works, the PSCO was in the wrong to confiscate alcohol from your friend who was drinking legally. Unless he actually saw him pass a can to the under-age guy.

He wasnt arrested for intent too supply, just had the cans taken from him. And im fairly certain with the current crackdown on underage drinking that the actions can be legalised and justified with a minimum amount of effort.

 

[atv_chic_18]

Yes the officer was correct in his actions. How does the officer know the adult isn't supplying to his underage friends? Plain and simple he doesn't. He's just following protocol and the law by taking the drink away from the adult he more than likely ID'd. I'm going to assume he's at or above drinking age limit here, 12 cans of presumably weak alcohol or not, 12 cans is still too many to not make assumptions from. Any officer no matter the country would simply assume that he was providing to underage with that much.

.

 

[Hutchy_Bear]

Yep the cop was right. I work in Tesco and if a group of teenage looking people try to buy alcohol then I have to ID them and refuse the sale even if only one of the group is underage. It doesn't matter who pays for it or who is buying it, if one person is underage in the group then no sale.

 

[historybuff]

As some of them were underaged, obviously yes, the cop was in the right. He's lucky that he wasn't arrested.

Also, they were idiots to have underage people with them and be out drinking in public in the first place. They deserved to have their booze confiscated.

 

[Kinguendo]

I will name myself as you are presenting a case without all the facts.

He said the reason why he was taking it was because of the amount... I had bought that amount because it is a weak alcohol and I am 6 foot 4 so it takes alot to actually get me drunk. I also bought my alcohol knowing everyone else had their own.

The PCSO said the amount I had was his reason for suspicion, clearly thinking I had bought that amount in order to share... a condition that existed prior to the actual confiscation of alcohol! So unless I can see into the future and see he was going to confiscate their alcohol then his claim is invalid!

He also gave a false number when we asked him for it AND he searched a friends bag when she wasnt there!

 

[Chester41585]

In my experience, "intent" can be debated, but in the eyes of a hard-line lawyer, "intent" in this case can mean simply being in possession of an item (presumably illicit) in the presence of minors (or just being in possession of, if the item is banned by law) with the idea of committing a criminal act.

The PCSO probably took the broad view of the situation and put two and two together. Beer, minors, and someone old enough to buy.

 

[DuplicateValue]

Seriously, there's worse problems around than a few 17 year olds drinking.

It's gonna happen on a regular basis and there's nothing anyone can do to stop most of it.
And there's no real difference between 17 and 18 anyway.

 

[El Poncho]

Seriously, there's worse problems around than a few 17 year olds drinking.

It's gonna happen on a regular basis and there's nothing anyone can do to stop most of it.
And there's no real difference between 17 and 18 anyway.

There is a whole law of difference

 

[LockHeart]

*snip*

Having seen this car crash unfold on Twitter and having also spoken to the other party, I think you should be fair and post ALL the relevant points to this.

While it is fair in confiscating the alcohol that was openly carried by the young 'uns, the PCSO had no right to search the sealed bags carried by the older members of the group, or any of the members in fact.

Also, 12 cans of lager really isn't a lot. Seriously, 'innocent until proven guilty' aside, seeing as most of the people I know will usually buy that amount if they're heading to a party or to a friend's, the PCSO had no justification in confiscating it.

Add to unlawful conduct the fact that he tried to lie about his identification number, and I think that the decision was entirely incorrect.

 

[Insanum]

I will name myself as you are presenting a case without all the facts.

He said the reason why he was taking it was because of the amount... I had bought that amount because it is a weak alcohol and I am 6 foot 4 so it takes alot to actually get me drunk. I also bought my alcohol knowing everyone else had their own.

How is the PSCO meant to know how youre metabolism works? Size doesnt always equal Iron Liver.

The PCSO said the amount I had was his reason for suspicion, clearly thinking I had bought that amount in order to share... a condition that existed prior to the actual confiscation of alcohol! So unless I can see into the future and see he was going to confiscate their alcohol then his claim is invalid!

12 cans of alcohol is a shareable amount, % doesnt come into it.

He also gave a false number when we asked him for it AND he searched a friends bag when she wasnt there!

A false PC number? Its on his shoulder... And once again, He has to make sure there isnt anything in the bag that shouldnt be.